Cold Weather and Colds: Facts and Fiction

Well linguistic lesson aside, there actually is a connection between cold weather and the coughing, sneezing and nose blowing that seems to appear out of nowhere and keep you from enjoying the things you love to do during the winter season. In this blog we are going to sort out what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to cold weather and colds.

Fiction: A cold is brought upon by exposure to cold temperatures.

Fact: A cold is brought on by exposure to a virus. There are actually over 200 types of cold virus out there, but the most common one is the rhinovirus.

Fiction: Wearing a scarf over your nose has no impact on whether or not you’ll catch a cold.

Fact: Studies have found that cold virus is more effectively replicated in the nasal passages when they are exposed to low temperatures. Therefore, keeping your nasal passages covered will actually help you stay healthy. (Now might be a good time to call your mom and thank her for all those times she wouldn’t let you leave the house without being all bundled up.)

Fiction: You will likely get a cold by just staying indoors in dry, heated air.

Fact: It’s not actually the air, but the exposure to viruses that hang around in stagnant, poorly ventilated air that will get you. However, it is true that this air dries out the mucus in our nose, and since mucus is our first line of defense against the cold virus, dry air is an indirect cause of getting sick.

Can’t get enough of interesting common cold facts? Here are some more presented by the American Lung Association:

• A cold may last for about one week, but some colds last longer, especially in children, the elderly and those in poor health.
• In the United States, colds account for more visits to the doctor than any other condition.
• Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May.
• Young children suffer from an average of six to eight colds per year.
• Colds are highly contagious. They most often spread when droplets of fluid that contain a cold virus are transferred by touch. These droplets may also be inhaled.

Now the question is: Are you suffering from the common cold or it the flu? Or is it winter allergies? If you’re not sure (or you are sure it’s allergies), make an appointment with CT Sinus Center today to find out how we can help you find relief. When you come in, we will ask you all about your symptoms and discuss your medical history. Next, we’ll utilize effective diagnostic tools to get to the root of your suffering and create an individualized treatment plan that will have you putting down the tissues and picking back the enjoyment of your favorite activities.

Call 860-BALLOON to schedule an appointment with one of our expert physicians. With four conveniently-located offices across the state, there is one in your neighborhood.

For more information on allergies and sinuses, visit the CT Sinus Center website and blog.