As quickly as temperatures drop, all of us begin worrying about the identical factor: not getting sick, or at the very least not getting sick as usually this yr. The limitless winter cycle of sick-better-sick-again can develop into exhausting, and avoiding the widespread chilly and different viruses is a prime precedence through the cold-weather months.
However whereas there are actual, evidence-backed methods to remain as wholesome as attainable—practising good hand hygiene, staying up-to-date on your entire vaccinations, and getting loads of sleep are just a few must-dos, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—there’s additionally a whole lot of very suss recommendation circulating simply as quick as these nasty viruses.
Under, we talk about just a few winter well being myths you have most likely heard in passing however ought to take with a significant grain of salt, plus some efficient methods to swerve the chilly, flu, and different viruses this yr.
6 winter well being myths that aren’t really true
Does chilly climate really make you sick? Can carrying one thing heat forestall you from catching a virus? We talked to 4 of our skilled medical doctors to debunk widespread beliefs about what can (or cannot) trigger sickness through the wintertime.
Delusion #1: Chilly climate makes you sick
Whilst you’re extra prone to catch a virus within the winter, the temperature itself is not the wrongdoer. “Germs make individuals sick, not chilly climate,” says Heather Viola, D.O., an inside drugs doctor at Mount Sinai Morningside & Mount Sinai West. You need to come into contact both with rhinovirus (aka the commonest reason for the widespread chilly) to catch a chilly or an influenza virus to contract the flu, she explains. However being indoors extra usually through the winter additionally means you are in nearer proximity to different individuals. So in the event that they’re sick, you are extra prone to catch their sickness too. Decrease humidity ranges within the winter can even dry your nasal passages out, making it simpler for viruses to enter your physique, Dr. Viola provides.
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What to do as an alternative: Spending time with family members is necessary, however you’ll be able to reduce your possibilities of catching a virus just like the widespread chilly by practising good hygiene, avoiding people who find themselves sick, and cleansing family surfaces usually, per the Mayo Clinic. “It’s additionally necessary to clean your palms repeatedly, put on a masks should you really feel unwell, and keep house should you really feel unhealthy,” says Jennifer L. Brull, M.D., a household doctor in Fort Collins, Colorado, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Delusion #2: Going out with moist hair causes colds
Talking of chilly temps: You’ll have heard that going exterior with moist hair on a chilly day can up your threat of getting a virus. This is not precisely true, Dr. Brull explains, since viruses just like the widespread chilly are unfold by means of bodily fluids corresponding to sneezes or coughs. Your hair has completely nothing to do with the transmission course of.
What to do as an alternative: If, say, you need to run exterior shortly to get the mail whereas your hair remains to be moist, you most likely needn’t fear about getting sick. But it surely’s nonetheless necessary to take care of a cushty physique temperature, and dry hair may also help you keep heat. “Whereas moist hair can not instantly trigger a chilly, it’s a good suggestion to remember the significance of staying heat and dry when exterior through the winter to scale back dangers of hypothermia [a condition that occurs when your body temperature drops too low],” says Dr. Brull.
Delusion #3: Sporting heat garments will forestall sickness
Heat clothes by itself will not forestall you from catching a virus. “Chilly climate—identical to going exterior with moist hair—doesn’t make you sick,” says Dr. Viola. However once more, it can assist forestall hypothermia, according to the CDC. “When our physique temperature drops, we use saved power to remain heat,” explains Dr. Brull, “however as that power retailer runs low, we might develop into hypothermic.”
What to do as an alternative: Staying heat, corresponding to by carrying weather-appropriate clothes, may also help scale back your possibilities of growing hypothermia. Heat clothes corresponding to a shawl that covers your face and mouth can even do double responsibility, stopping you from shedding an excessive amount of warmth whereas additionally lowering your possibilities of catching an airborne an infection, says Neal Patel, D.O., a household drugs specialist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County. It additionally does not damage to placed on a pair of heated gloves whenever you’re exterior on a snowy day or put money into a cozy throw blanket to slide underneath on a cold night time.
Delusion #4: Taking Vitamin C dietary supplements will show you how to forestall getting sick
There’s a whole lot of misinformation on the market about vitamin C dietary supplements and your immune system, our consultants say. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which does assist assist immunity, Dr. Brull explains, however taking dietary supplements that include it will not essentially forestall sickness. Some proof, nevertheless, suggests taking vitamin C might slightly shorten the duration of your cold.
What to do as an alternative: It is nonetheless good to replenish on vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, purple pepper, broccoli, and spinach. “Whereas Vitamin C is probably not the one factor standing between you and a day on the sofa feeling sick and stuffy, ensuring you’re getting sufficient of it by means of meals like berries and greens helps your immune system do its job,” Dr. Brull tells us.
Delusion #5: Ingesting heat liquids will assist forestall colds
Sadly, a sizzling cup of tea or bowl of soup on a winter day additionally will not scale back your possibilities of getting a virus. “Heat liquids don’t forestall diseases,” says Dr. Viola. “They may also help you’re feeling hotter, however received’t scale back an individual’s probability of getting a chilly.”
What to do as an alternative: Sip away—wam liquids nonetheless supply loads of different advantages. Not solely will they preserve you hydrated, however they are often soothing on the throat, says Dr. Viola. The substances in these heat liquids can even assist your total well being in different methods; for instance, chicken soup could be a good supply of protein, whereas tea might include good-for-you antioxidants like lemon or ginger.
Delusion #6: Exercising exterior will make you sick
Once more, you need to watch out to not let your self develop into overly chilly when exterior through the winter to stop hypothermia. However there is not any cause to not train in chilly climate so long as you are feeling snug. There are nonetheless loads of choices for figuring out when the temperature drops, whether or not that is going for a run or stroll, snowboarding, snowboarding, or ice skating.
What to do as an alternative: There are numerous causes to maintain up along with your train routine throughout winter, and also you really do not even essentially must cease figuring out when you’ve got a gentle chilly, consultants say. “Train will really strengthen your immune system,” says Yoshua Quinones, M.D., a board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan. According to the Mayo Clinic, most individuals are high quality to train if they’ve respiratory signs like a runny nostril or sore throat, although it is best to let your self relaxation when you’ve got a fever or muscle soreness.
The underside line
Sadly, you most likely cannot utterly keep away from getting sick within the winter, and actually, it might be slightly uncommon should you did. Most adults catch two to 4 colds a yr, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nonetheless, taking steps to stop illness by no means hurts. And whereas most of those winter well being myths aren’t precisely unhealthy (e.g., it is most likely not going to really feel very good to go exterior with moist hair), if you are going to the trouble to keep away from getting sick, you would possibly as effectively concentrate on methods that actually make a distinction. Meaning washing your palms usually, getting loads of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet meals so your physique is primed to combat germs, avoiding contact with others once they’re sick, and staying on prime of your immunizations (that flu shot is a should!).
