Can cold weather really make you sick? The doctor explains what really happens if you go outside without a sweater, and his trick to ‘kill viruses’
- Sydney doctor Zac Turner shared if a cold can make you feel bad
- He said that the cold does not cause disease.
Sydney physician Dr Zac Turner (pictured) said cold weather alone does not cause the flu.
A doctor has debunked an old myth about whether being outside in the cold of winter can make you sick.
Dr. Zac Turner, a physician and biomedical scientist, said that cold weather simply doesn’t cause colds and flus.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr. Turner explained that the reason more people get sick in winter has to do with three things: body temperature, being around other people, and lack of sunlight.
“In winter, we tend to be less exposed to sunlight, exercise less, our body temperatures drop, so we stay indoors, creating a perfect storm for viruses and bacteria to spread and make us sick. “, said.
In short, it’s the viruses and bacteria, and the increased likelihood of being in close proximity during the winter, that cause illness. Not the cold itself.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr. Turner said that the cold itself does not make you sick.
Why do more people get sick in winter?
Dr. Turner said the viruses generally target the upper respiratory system and tend to spread through droplets or mucus when someone coughs, breathes, talks or sneezes near another person.
People tend to stay indoors surrounded by other people for longer periods in winter, giving viruses and bacteria an opportunity to spread rapidly from person to person.
The combination of little sunlight, less exercise, a drop in body temperature, and being around others gives unwanted viruses an optimal zone to replicate and infect the body.
As a result, more people tend to get sick in the winter compared to the warmer months.
Dr. Turner added that you may start to notice the first symptoms of the flu, such as a scratchy throat or fever, so it’s essential to try to fight the virus by “sweating it off.”
“Fever is not such a bad thing, it indicates that the body is trying to do something by raising the temperature, so bundle up, drink hot tea and lie under a blanket for about an hour to fight it,” he said.
Viruses live inside our own bodies and can easily spread because they need to keep moving. While bacteria can live on us, like our hands.
“Sometimes people can live with a bacterial virus for 48 hours or more before it starts to affect the body.”
“In winter, we tend to be less exposed to sunlight, exercise less, our body temperatures drop, and we stay very close to each other, creating a perfect storm for viruses and bacteria to spread and make us sick.” said Dr. Turner (file image)
Why is it called ‘cold and flu season’?
In winter, the virulence or potency of the viruses tends to be much stronger due to the cooler weather and less intense sunlight.
Dr Turner said that in the warmer months, people tend to exercise more frequently, which is good for serotonin levels and for killing viruses and bacteria as body temperatures rise during training.
“Instead of exercising or sitting in the sun during the winter, we stay inside and don’t get much sun. Along with this, we are often in tighter places that we couldn’t find,” she said.
“As you hang out around a warm fire, you’re often breathing on other people who might then pick up some of the virus you have because viruses spread so easily.”
With this in mind, both viruses and bacteria spread easily, which is why winter is called “cold and flu season.”
Dr. Turner also added that two people could be exposed to the same virus but have completely different responses depending on their immunity and whether they’ve had it before.
