Your Mom Was Right: You Can Get Sick From The Cold Weather. Here's How.

Springtime is for spring cleaning, summer is for coastal grandmother-ing, and winter is…apparently the season for getting sick. Remember all those times your mom said to bundle up before going outside because you could catch a cold? Well, she may have been onto something. So we called up two doctors to get more info: Dr. Navya Mysore, a primary care physician at One Medical, and Dr. Eva Beaulieu, an internal medicine hospitalist and author of “Paging Doctor You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Doctor.” 

Experts interviewed:

Dr. Eva Beaulieu - Dr. Eva Beaulieu is an internal medicine hospitalist and author of “Paging Doctor You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Doctor.”

Dr. Navya Mysore - Dr. Navya Mysore is a primary care physician at One Medical, where she is also an office medical director and the national program medical director for sexual and reproductive health. 

So does cold weather make you sick? 

Cold weather doesn’t make you sick directly. “What makes you sick is catching a virus — and then the virus will make you sick,” said Dr. Mysore. But the cold may make you more likely to get sick. Dr. Mysore and Dr. Beaulieu explained a few reasons for that:

• Cold temperatures can dampen your immunity, and interfere with your body’s ability to fight off viruses. For example, a recent study showed that a drop in temperature may kill many bacteria-fighting cells in your nose. The air is also drier in the winter. That could dry out the mucus in your sinuses and make it easier for viruses to get inside.

• Plus, viruses like the common cold and flu typically thrive in colder temperatures. 

• Combine that with more time spent indoors with other people, and "you have more chances to pass along illnesses," Dr. Beaulieu said. 

I also heard going out in the cold with wet hair can make me sick?

It won't directly make you sick. But because wet hair in cold weather can make you colder, that might exacerbate the cold's impact on your immune system. Dr. Mysore’s tip: “Dry [your hair] at least a little bit before you go out.” 

How can I avoid getting sick during the winter?

Listen to your mother: Bundle up in cold weather clothing before you head out in the frigid temps. Dr. Mysore recommended covering your neck, nose, and ears — which will help prevent your internal temperature from dropping and help keep your immune system strong. 

If you can, consider arming your immune system with the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s not the only way to take care of your immune system: Get enough sleep, eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables (which can give you necessary vitamins and nutrients), and don’t underestimate the power of washing your hands regularly. 

If you like to be active outdoors during the winter, Dr. Mysore said it’s totally fine — but do a warm-up before you head outside. And when you get home, don’t hang out in sweaty clothes. Either change into dry ones or jump into a warm shower ASAP. 

An important note: Even if you do everything right, there’s always a chance that you’ll still get sick. When that happens, take care of yourself by resting, hydrating, and making an appointment with your doctor. 

theSkimm

Avoiding a cold during winter can feel like dodging invasive questions at a family gathering: Nearly impossible. Luckily, there are ways you can guard your immune system. But don’t be hard on yourself if you do catch a cold. It happens.