Why does cold weather makes us sick?

The common cold virus will not survive in normal body temperatures. So if your body has the cold
virus and you are exposed to cold weather, the virus can multiply. Breathing cold air can help the
virus to reproduce if it is there. So try to keep your nose warm.

web.umr.edurhinovirus.htmlOpen ↗

Ora

(zerge) said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory diseases? I
used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our immunse system, but
this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until hypthermia). You can be exposed to
cold weather for only a couple of minutes and you start immediately to sneeze or cough. Any
theories about this?

"zerge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory diseases?

It doesn't.

However, people's repsonse to cold air is to stay closer together, in doors. It is this staying
together, plus poor hygiene (not washing hands, touching faces) that gets people sick.

Quoted message said:

I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our immunse system,
but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until hypthermia).

You;re correct.

Quoted message said:

You can be exposed to cold weather for only a couple of
minutes and you start immediately to sneeze or cough.

The cold air sometime irrirates the lining of the nose or other airways, causing the cough or
sneezing or runny noses. Coughing and sneezing does not mean you are sick.

Quoted message said:

Any theories about this?

It's a mix of factors. Cold viruses thrive in cold weather. Cold weather and moving from heated
environments to the outside causes drying of mucus membranes, mucus membranes are a first line
defense, this usually causes itchy nose and the tendency to "pick" the nose or rub the eyes ,
introducing more viruses and bacteria.

Drink plenty of water, humidify your home, keep your home temp 68 degrees F and WASH your hands
frequently.

JMRNBSN

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The common cold virus will not survive in normal body temperatures. So if

your

Quoted message said:

body has the cold virus and you are exposed to cold weather, the virus can multiply. Breathing
cold air can help the virus to reproduce if it is

there.

Quoted message said:

So try to keep your nose warm.

This is utter [censored]. Please note words "slightly below body temperature." Keeping your nose warm
won't make a difference. Besides, unless you live outside, the air temp. in the nose will get into
the right range for virus reproduction (don't forget, you breath cool air, like 22 C when you breath
in, keeping the temperature of the nasal passages a nice comfy (for viruses) 33-35 C.

It is that people are close together that spreads viruses, not the cold. Get a clue.

JEff

Quoted message said:

web.umr.edurhinovirus.htmlOpen ↗

Ora

(zerge) said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory diseases?
I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our immunse system,
but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until hypthermia). You can be
exposed to cold weather for only a couple of minutes and you start immediately to sneeze or
cough. Any theories about this?

I would also think that if you were outside a lot in the cold your body would be spending a lot of
energy keeping warm, which would probably lower you immune system's functioning by a bit.

Probably not much, though.... Just a thought.

-- Eric

Jeff said:

"zerge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory
diseases?

It doesn't.

However, people's repsonse to cold air is to stay closer together, in doors. It is this staying
together, plus poor hygiene (not washing hands, touching faces) that gets people sick.

Quoted message said:

I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our immunse system,
but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until hypthermia).

You;re correct.

Quoted message said:

You can be exposed to cold weather for only a couple of
minutes and you start immediately to sneeze or cough.

The cold air sometime irrirates the lining of the nose or other airways, causing the cough or
sneezing or runny noses. Coughing and sneezing does not mean you are sick.

Quoted message said:

Any theories about this?

Jeff said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The common cold virus will not survive in normal body temperatures. So if

your

Quoted message said:

body has the cold virus and you are exposed to cold weather, the virus can multiply. Breathing
cold air can help the virus to reproduce if it is

there.

Quoted message said:

So try to keep your nose warm.

This is utter [censored]. Please note words "slightly below body temperature." Keeping your nose warm
won't make a difference. Besides, unless you live outside, the air temp. in the nose will get into
the right range for virus reproduction (don't forget, you breath cool air, like 22 C when you
breath in, keeping the temperature of the nasal passages a nice comfy (for viruses) 33-35 C.

Based on past experience, when my nose gets cold I start sniffling shortly thereafter. If I warm
up my nose, the sniffling goes away and the Cold does not follow. So it may be [censored] but it
works anyhow.

It does not matter whether I am inside or outside. If my nose gets cold, I catch a cold.

Quoted message said:

It is that people are close together that spreads viruses, not the cold. Get a clue.

JEff

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

web.umr.edurhinovirus.htmlOpen ↗

Ora

(zerge) said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory
diseases? I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our
immunse system, but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until
hypthermia). You can be exposed to cold weather for only a couple of minutes and you start
immediately to sneeze or cough. Any theories about this?

.... I guess my question was how can you say this has *no* effect.

Actually, I just asked an immunologist about this and he said that the reason cold weather makes
people sick is because it can cause mast cells to degranulate and this produces a lot of histamines
in some people, sometimes even severe enough to cause anaphylactic shock. This would lower the
immune system's ability to fight off pathogens, of course. He said it can also cause the mucosa to
dry out which can lead to erosion of the epithelium.

-- Eric

Eric Wilk said:

I would also think that if you were outside a lot in the cold your body would be spending a lot of
energy keeping warm, which would probably lower you immune system's functioning by a bit.

Probably not much, though.... Just a thought.

-- Eric

Jeff said:

"zerge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory
diseases?

It doesn't.

However, people's repsonse to cold air is to stay closer together, in doors. It is this staying
together, plus poor hygiene (not washing hands, touching faces) that gets people sick.

Quoted message said:

I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our immunse
system, but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until hypthermia).

You;re correct.

Quoted message said:

You can be exposed to cold weather for only a couple of
minutes and you start immediately to sneeze or cough.

The cold air sometime irrirates the lining of the nose or other airways, causing the cough or
sneezing or runny noses. Coughing and sneezing does not mean you are sick.

Quoted message said:

Any theories about this?

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 20:21:28 -0500, "Jeff" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The common cold virus will not survive in normal body temperatures. So

if

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your

Quoted message said:

body has the cold virus and you are exposed to cold weather, the virus

can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

multiply. Breathing cold air can help the virus to reproduce if it is

there.

Quoted message said:

So try to keep your nose warm.

This is utter [censored]. Please note words "slightly below body

temperature."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Keeping your nose warm won't make a difference. Besides, unless you live outside, the air temp.
in the nose will get into the right range for

virus

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

reproduction (don't forget, you breath cool air, like 22 C when you

breath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in, keeping the temperature of the nasal passages a nice comfy (for

viruses)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

33-35 C.

Based on past experience, when my nose gets cold I start sniffling shortly thereafter. If I warm
up my nose, the sniffling goes away and the Cold

does

Quoted message said:

not follow. So it may be [censored] but it works anyhow.

A runny nose is not a cold. The nose runs in response to cold because it makes more mucus when we go
out in the cold. It has nothing to do with a cold (viral infection).

Quoted message said:

It does not matter whether I am inside or outside. If my nose gets cold,

I

Quoted message said:

catch a cold.

No, you don't catch a cold. A runny nose is not a cold.

Now, I know what you are going to say: you really catch a cold. Most likely what you remember is
when you have a cold, you recall how you were outside a while ago, and your nose started to run.
What you probably don't remember is all the times you were outside and did not get a cold
afterwards. So you selectively remember the events you (falsely) associate with catching the cold.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It is that people are close together that spreads viruses, not the cold.

Get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a clue.

JEff

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

web.umr.edurhinovirus.htmlOpen ↗

Ora

On 18 Dec 2003 14:04:05 -0800, [email hidden] (zerge) wrote:

>Hi, does anybody know exactly why is it that cold weather makes us prone to respiratory
>diseases? I used to think that maybe the cold slows down our metabolism and therefore our
>immunse system, but this sound unlikely, since the body keeps its temperature (until
>hypthermia). You can be exposed to cold weather for only a couple of minutes and you start
>immediately to sneeze or cough. Any theories about this?

Jeff said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 20:21:28 -0500, "Jeff" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> The common cold virus will not survive in normal body temperatures. So

if

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your
> body has the cold virus and you are exposed to cold weather, the virus

can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> multiply. Breathing cold air can help the virus to reproduce if it is
there.
> So try to keep your nose warm.

This is utter [censored]. Please note words "slightly below body

temperature."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Keeping your nose warm won't make a difference. Besides, unless you live outside, the air temp.
in the nose will get into the right range for

virus

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

reproduction (don't forget, you breath cool air, like 22 C when you

breath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in, keeping the temperature of the nasal passages a nice comfy (for

viruses)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

33-35 C.

Based on past experience, when my nose gets cold I start sniffling shortly thereafter. If I warm
up my nose, the sniffling goes away and the Cold

does

Quoted message said:

not follow. So it may be [censored] but it works anyhow.

A runny nose is not a cold. The nose runs in response to cold because it makes more mucus when we
go out in the cold. It has nothing to do with a cold (viral infection).

Quoted message said:

It does not matter whether I am inside or outside. If my nose gets cold,

I

Quoted message said:

catch a cold.

No, you don't catch a cold. A runny nose is not a cold.

Now, I know what you are going to say: you really catch a cold. Most likely what you remember is
when you have a cold, you recall how you were outside a while ago, and your nose started to run.
What you probably don't remember is all the times you were outside and did not get a cold
afterwards. So you selectively remember the events you (falsely) associate with catching the cold.

Jeff

I have gone out in the cold weather and not gotten a cold, nor has my nose gotten cold. But even
when the weather is not cold, when my nose gets cold, I get a cold. You can call it a runny nose
only but when I get a runny nose I call it a cold. Doctors sometimes call it a virus but they don't
check to see whether it is a virus. If I warm up my nose, chances are the cold will go away. I don't
get tests to see whether I have a virus. Who does?

Ora

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 23:21:03 -0500, "Jeff" <[email hidden]>

wrote:

(...) \

Quoted message said:

I have gone out in the cold weather and not gotten a cold, nor has my nose gotten cold. But even
when the weather is not cold, when my nose gets

cold, I

Quoted message said:

get a cold.

No, you get a runny nose. A cold is a viral infection. Runny nose is one of the symptoms. But a
runny nose is not a cold.

Quoted message said:

You can call it a runny nose only but when I get a runny nose I call it a cold.

You could call it a car. But it is not. It is a runny nose. By calling it a cold, you confuse
all of us.

Quoted message said:

Doctors sometimes call it a virus but they don't check to see whether it is a virus.

That's because there is no good test for a cold and even if you could diagnose a cold, all you can
do is treat the sysmptoms.

Quoted message said:

If I warm up my nose, chances are the cold will go away.

Which means it is not a cold.

Quoted message said:

I don't get tests to see whether I have a virus. Who does?

Researchers. But what you describe is a runny nose, not a cold.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Ora

Jeff said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 23:21:03 -0500, "Jeff" <[email hidden]>

wrote:

(...) \

Quoted message said:

I have gone out in the cold weather and not gotten a cold, nor has my nose gotten cold. But even
when the weather is not cold, when my nose gets

cold, I

Quoted message said:

get a cold.

No, you get a runny nose. A cold is a viral infection. Runny nose is one of the symptoms. But a
runny nose is not a cold.

Quoted message said:

You can call it a runny nose only but when I get a runny nose I call it a cold.

You could call it a car. But it is not. It is a runny nose. By calling it a cold, you confuse
all of us.

Quoted message said:

Doctors sometimes call it a virus but they don't check to see whether it is a virus.

That's because there is no good test for a cold and even if you could diagnose a cold, all you can
do is treat the sysmptoms.

Quoted message said:

If I warm up my nose, chances are the cold will go away.

Which means it is not a cold.

Quoted message said:

I don't get tests to see whether I have a virus. Who does?

Researchers. But what you describe is a runny nose, not a cold.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Ora

Then if the doctor tells one that they have a virus, they should go to a researcher??? to find out
which virus they have. Sounds like if a doctor can't help you they call it a virus and that is the
end of their responsibility.

If there is no test for a cold and doctors do not identify viruses, why do they accept our money to
tell us they can't help us. Do they ever do a test to find out whether it is a bacterial infection
or do they just slough it off by calling it a virus?

Ora

Quoted message said:

Then if the doctor tells one that they have a virus, they should go to a researcher??? to find out
which virus they have. Sounds like if a doctor

can't

Quoted message said:

help you they call it a virus and that is the end of their responsibility.

Most minor illnesses work themselves out. For the doctor to order extra tests that won't do any good
is a waste of money and time. In fact, the doctor is much more likely to find something incidentally
that will require investigation and turn out to be a red herring.

For most minor illnesses, the best thing the doctor can do is verify that there are no concerning
signs or symptoms and stay on the sidelines (that is in the office while you go home), and be
available if there is an unexpected change for the worse.

Quoted message said:

If there is no test for a cold and doctors do not identify viruses, why

do they

Quoted message said:

accept our money to tell us they can't help us.

They do help you. They check to make sure it is nothing serious. And they don't give you unnecessary
and potentially harmful treatments (and any treatment is potentially harmful).

Quoted message said:

Do they ever do a test to find out whether it is a bacterial infection or do they just slough
it off by

calling

Quoted message said:

it a virus?

They do test for bacterial illness when warranted. For example, they will often test for strep
throat when it looks like it could be strep throat.

Buttom line is that for most minor illnesses, the best thing to do is wait and watch. Most of the
time the minor illnesses will go away on their own.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Ora