Cold weather and colds

I have had the conversation with quite a few people regarding the correlation between BEING in the cold, and actually GETTING a cold.

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Most parents around the world have said the words "stay warm or you'll get a cold" or "you cant go out with wet hair or you'll get a cold!"

Admit it, you're one of them!

I think it's time that in this day and age where incorrect information is not longer something we can hold onto....we have every resource available to us to in order to make more informed decisions regarding our lives and the consequences of our decisions.
I know sometimes there is too much information, and even misdirection, but in cases like this you should be able to ascertain the truth of the matter reasonably easily.

You don't get colds from the cold weather!!

That is the first thing that needs to be highlighted.

There is a correlation between the cold weather and the actual colds we receive, but its not the actual cause of the illness.

So let's not say Justin is ignoring 100's of years of experiences to say there cold doesn't have any effect on colds, because there is some truth to the information, but the actual blame has been given to the wrong culprit.

The most common causes for the common cold is from the Rhinovirus, although there are over 200 other viruses that can cause a person to get a sore throat, runny nose, coughing etc.

This virus happens to prefer colder weather, and is best able to reproduce at temperatures just below the body's natural 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 deg C).
So if the body is slightly colder due to the cold weather we are experiencing, then we are creating a great breeding environment for the virus to develop.

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Also, close contact with humans in a close proximity when forced indoors due to the cold is another way of spreading the virus effectively.

So lets look a little closer to the way it worked, and what scientists have said regarding the virus growth and spreading.

When a human comes into contact with the virus, and it is a comfortable temperature for the person that the virus has been introduced to, the "host cells produced significantly more interferons -- proteins that "interfere" with the spread of a virus by warning healthy cells of its presence and setting off an immune response. - Monte Morin".

In the cooler areas like the nasal cavity (where the temperatures are generally between 33-35 deg C), the virus spread a lot more easily because the warning system was significantly less efficient than the lungs (around 37 deg C) for example.

So in fact it is actually the lack of intervention from the body that boosts the development of the virus when it it is cold. A very different way of looking at what we thought of previously.

This probably also explains why the cold doesn't cause more serious infections like the flu....because we are able to warm up and recover naturally.

No matter how cold it is, running around with wet hair or in the cold will do nothing to you, unless there is a virus out there waiting to be bred inside your nasal passages!!

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So how to then fight the cold?

Looking at the above, then the best way to fight the cold virus is in fact allowing yourself to stay warm....cover the nasal and mouth cavities when out in the cold would also maintain the heat in the cavities, but also restrict the virus from entering in the first place.

Let's make some illness fighting advice:
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1. When you start getting tired from a bug...SLEEP! We somehow think were brave for pushing through when the body is telling you what it needs to fight the infection. Listen and get a good sleep in.
   To give you an indication on how important sleep is, did you know that if you sleep less than 7 hours a night, you are then more than 3 times likely to get a cold than those that sleep more than 7 hours?
   
2. Drink a lot of liquids!! The snotty nose is the worst effect of the cold in my opinion, and drives me NUTS!! But because the body is usually attacked through these passages by the virus, the body responds by secreting more mucus to the areas to flush out the virus.
   Help you body by drinking a lot of liquids to flush out the virus quicker!
   
3. Chronic stress is NOT good for the immune system! Because your body gets used to the increased stress hormones you produce if you're constantly stressed, it is no longer able to use them to fight the viruses off.
   So take a break, take a moment and help yourself out.
   
4. Gargle with salt water. This is an interesting one.
   “Gargling helps reduce swelling and mucus collection in the back of the throat and nasal passages, where the cough receptors are,” - Dr. Lausier
   This prevents you from barking away. In fact in Japan where they tested the salt water gargling theory, they showed that after 60 days the gargling group had a 40% decrease in colds compared to the rest of the group.
   Of course, don't swallow the salt water, just gargle.
   
5. Warm showers and humidifiers will help clear the passages and flush the virus. They help make the mucus in your passages thinner and also help shrink the swollen membranes which will make breathing easier.
   This is especially relevant in areas where winter is the dry season, because in that environment, the bodies defenses are 'hamstrung' by the lack of moisture in flushing the virus out.
   Help a guy out!
   
6. Chicken soup!! But how can this really help you??
   If you are getting all the symptoms (watery, tired eyes, pressure in cheeks, headache, snots) then you are pretty sure you're under attack from a virus which is in the sinus passages.
   Chicken soup adds hydration, salt from the mixture and electrolytes. Also Dr Lausier says “What goes in it can also provide healing properties: Onions and garlic can reduce the viscosity of mucus and help prevent or lessen congestion.” This includes ginger, chili peppers and raw garlic, which are all natural decongestants.
   
7. Light exercise! Yup, this is a great way of helping your immune system out. It not only keeps you healthier, but is a great way of reducing the severity of the symptoms, which makes you feel better.
   You would need to continue through the recovery, but it helps the body flush the germs out the lungs and airways.
   
8. Old method of propping yourself up is important to help the nasal passages drop the mucus out. Lying down is not helping you in this case, even though you need to rest.
   

I hope this helps those of you in the Southern Hemisphere out. As we head into full on winter, remember the advice that was given here...it may help you either dodge the virus altogether, or at least fight it off quickly.

Cheers all