Does cold weather give you a cold?

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What is the definition of cold?

Does cold weather give you a cold?

The cold and flu season is generally associated with the winter months, but scientists are unable to directly link cold weather to actually catching a cold. Colds and flu are caused and spread by microorganisms, not weather. Many researchers believe that more people are inside buildings during the winter months, increasing the possibility of spreading the microorganisms from person to person.

   

Comments

10/17/2007 8:48:00 PM
Andres Applewhite said:

Though this is actually true, i think its fair to consider another important fact.
There actually is a medical link between cold wheather and actually catching a cold.
When the flu is going on around, there are many asymptomatic people who are indeed infected with a virus in the upper respiratory tract (nose and mouth). The thing is, their inmune system is able to control and prevent the reproduction of the virus.
Now, when people are exposed to cold environments, the body naturally draws blood away from the extremities and face for the purpose of: 1) concentrate warm blood where the main organs are (thorax and abdomen) and 2) if you draw blood away from the skin surface, its harder for heat to dissipate from the blood, and therefor keeps the inside of the body warmer (...again, where the main organs are found). This natural body reaction diminishes the blood-flow to the virally infected upper respiratory tract, hence reduces the amount of white blood cells, and therefor the virus has a better chance of reproducing to the point where it is able to cause more damage and... kaboom... you develop a cold. So moms where right all along after all... if you dont want to get a cold, then stay warm!


1/19/2008 3:57:18 AM
Andres Applewhite said:

Though this is actually true, I think it’s fair to consider another important fact.
There actually is a physiological link between cold weather and actually catching a cold.
When the flu is going on around, there are many asymptomatic people who are indeed infected with a virus in the upper respiratory tract (nose and mouth). The thing is, their immune system is able to control and prevent the reproduction of the virus.
Now, when people are exposed to cold environments, the body naturally draws blood away from the extremities and face for the purpose of: 1) concentrate warm blood where the main organs are (thorax and abdomen) and 2) if you draw blood away from the skin surface, its harder for heat to dissipate from the blood, and therefore keeps the inside of the body warmer (...again, where the main organs are found). This natural body reaction diminishes the blood-flow to the virally infected upper respiratory tract, hence reduces the amount of white blood cells, and therefore the virus has a better chance of reproducing to the point where it is able to cause more damage and... kaboom... you develop a cold. Also, it is harder for diapedesis to occur with vasoconstricted blood vessels. So moms where right all along after all... if you don’t want to get a cold, then stay warm!


11/13/2008 6:04:03 PM
Brittany said:

how does wind effect your body or give you a cold




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