Chilly weather is often blamed for causing a runny nose and coughs, but does spending time outside in cold temperatures really increase your chances of getting a cold? According to Professor John Tregoning from Imperial College London, it's more about human behavior than the temperature itself.
While UV light can help kill viruses, making them inactive when exposed to sunlight, the main reason for the rise in colds during winter is that people spend more time indoors with poor ventilation and are closer together. This means that viruses like rhinovirus and RSV have a better chance of spreading from person to person.
Different types of cold and flu viruses peak at different times, with kids returning to school bringing rhinoviruses into the mix. The data from the Covid-19 pandemic shows just how much human contact affects the spread of illness – when people aren't interacting, many other viruses largely disappear.
However, extreme cold can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection. Research has shown that rhinoviruses grow better in cooler temperatures and that our bodies are less effective at fighting off viruses in colder air.
So what's the best way to protect yourself from winter illnesses? Vaccination against flu and RSV is the most effective way to prevent infection, with added benefits like reducing the risk of heart attacks. As Professor Tregoning puts it, "Vaccines don't just stop you getting sick – they also have a broader impact on your health."
While UV light can help kill viruses, making them inactive when exposed to sunlight, the main reason for the rise in colds during winter is that people spend more time indoors with poor ventilation and are closer together. This means that viruses like rhinovirus and RSV have a better chance of spreading from person to person.
Different types of cold and flu viruses peak at different times, with kids returning to school bringing rhinoviruses into the mix. The data from the Covid-19 pandemic shows just how much human contact affects the spread of illness – when people aren't interacting, many other viruses largely disappear.
However, extreme cold can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection. Research has shown that rhinoviruses grow better in cooler temperatures and that our bodies are less effective at fighting off viruses in colder air.
So what's the best way to protect yourself from winter illnesses? Vaccination against flu and RSV is the most effective way to prevent infection, with added benefits like reducing the risk of heart attacks. As Professor Tregoning puts it, "Vaccines don't just stop you getting sick – they also have a broader impact on your health."