Can You Catch a Cold From Cold Weather?

The truth is, the flu and the common cold are caused by viruses. People get sick more often in the winter because they are exposed to each other more in the winter than in the summer. When it is cold outside, people tend to stay inside and are more likely to spread germs to one another.

Also, because school is in session, kids are around each other all day and are not afraid to share their germs. With so many people in such close contact, the likelihood of passing germs is much higher when it is cold outside than when it is warm and people are outdoors. There is also evidence now that viruses spread more easily through dry air.

When it is cold outside, the air is drier both outdoors and inside (where people have their heaters on) which may make it easier for germs to pass from one person to another. But it is not the cold weather that causes the cold, it just might make it easier to spread the virus. In tropical areas, where it does not get cold, the common cold and flu season generally occurs during the rainy season.

But again, these illnesses are not caused by the rain. They are just more prevalent because people come in closer contact with each other than they do during the dry season. The most important thing to remember during cold and flu season is to remember to protect yourself against these germs when you are around other people.

Viruses are passed by contact between people, so be sure to wash your hands often. Will Hand Sanitizer Work?

So if you touch your mouth or nose after touching someone or something that's been contaminated by one of these viruses, you'll probably catch a cold (unless you're already immune to the virus from having been exposed to it before). Air that's dry — indoors or out — can lower resistance to infection by viruses. So can allergies, lack of sleep, stress, not eating properly, or hanging out with someone who is smoking.

And people who smoke are more likely to catch colds than people who don't. Their symptoms will probably be worse, last longer, and be more likely to lead to bronchitis or even pneumonia. If you already have a cold, you're more likely to spread it to others if you don't wash your hands after you cough or sneeze.

Going to school or doing normal activities probably won't make you feel any worse. But it will increase the likelihood that your cold will spread to classmates or friends. How Long Do Colds Last?

Cold symptoms usually appear 2 or 3 days after a person has been exposed to a source of infection. People with colds are most contagious for the first 3 or 4 days after the symptoms appear and may be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Although some colds can linger for as long as 2 weeks, most clear up within a week.

Can Colds Be Cured With Chicken Soup? There's no real proof that chicken soup can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. And don't worry about whether to feed a cold or starve a fever.

Just eat when you're hungry. Drink plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the extra fluids you lose while your body is producing a lot of mucus or has a fever. Whether you feel like sleeping around the clock or just taking things a bit easier, pay attention to what your body is telling you when you have a cold.

A warm bath or heating pad can soothe aches and pains, and the steam from a hot shower can help you breathe more easily.