As quickly as temperatures drop, all of us begin worrying about the identical factor: not getting sick, or no less than not getting sick as usually this 12 months. The countless winter cycle of sick-better-sick-again can develop into exhausting, and avoiding the widespread chilly and different viruses is a prime precedence throughout the cold-weather months.
However whereas there are actual, evidence-backed methods to remain as wholesome as doable—practising good hand hygiene, staying up-to-date on your whole vaccinations, and getting loads of sleep are a couple of must-dos, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention—there’s additionally numerous very suss recommendation circulating simply as quick as these nasty viruses.
Under, we focus on a couple of winter well being myths you’ve got in all probability heard in passing however ought to take with a serious grain of salt, plus some efficient methods to swerve the chilly, flu, and different viruses this 12 months.
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 professional docs to debunk widespread beliefs about what can (or cannot) trigger sickness throughout the wintertime.
Fable #1: Chilly climate makes you sick
Whilst you’re extra more likely to catch a virus within the winter, the temperature itself is not the wrongdoer. “Germs make folks 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 most typical explanation for the widespread chilly) to catch a chilly or an influenza virus to contract the flu, she explains. However being indoors extra usually throughout the winter additionally means you are in nearer proximity to different folks. So in the event that they’re sick, you are extra more likely 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.
Associated Tales
What to do as an alternative: Spending time with family members is necessary, however you possibly can reduce your probabilities 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 scrub your fingers commonly, put on a masks when you really feel unwell, and keep residence when you really feel unhealthy,” says Jennifer L. Brull, M.D., a household doctor in Fort Collins, Colorado, and president of the American Academy of Household Physicians (AAFP).
Fable #2: Going out with moist hair causes colds
Talking of chilly temps: You could have heard that going exterior with moist hair on a chilly day can up your danger of getting a virus. This is not precisely true, Dr. Brull explains, since viruses just like the widespread chilly are unfold via bodily fluids akin to sneezes or coughs. Your hair has completely nothing to do with the transmission course of.
What to do as an alternative: If, say, it’s a must to run exterior shortly to get the mail whereas your hair continues to be moist, you in all probability need not fear about getting sick. But it surely’s nonetheless necessary to keep up a snug physique temperature, and dry hair might help you keep heat. “Whereas moist hair can’t instantly trigger a chilly, it’s a good suggestion to remember the significance of staying heat and dry when exterior throughout the winter to scale back dangers of hypothermia [a condition that occurs when your body temperature drops too low],” says Dr. Brull.
Fable #3: Carrying 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, based on 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, akin to by carrying weather-appropriate clothes, might help scale back your probabilities of creating hypothermia. Heat clothes akin 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 probabilities of catching an airborne an infection, says Neal Patel, D.O., a household drugs specialist with Windfall St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County. It additionally does not harm to placed on a pair of heated gloves if you’re exterior on a snowy day or spend money on a cozy throw blanket to slide below on a cold night time.
Fable #4: Taking Vitamin C dietary supplements will assist you forestall getting sick
There’s numerous misinformation on the market about vitamin C dietary supplements and your immune system, our consultants say. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which does assist help immunity, Dr. Brull explains, however taking dietary supplements that comprise it will not essentially forestall sickness. Some proof, nevertheless, suggests taking vitamin C would possibly barely shorten the period of your chilly.
What to do as an alternative: It is nonetheless sensible to replenish on vitamin C-rich meals like oranges, crimson pepper, broccoli, and spinach. “Whereas Vitamin C might not be the one factor standing between you and a day on the sofa feeling sick and stuffy, ensuring you’re getting sufficient of it via meals like berries and greens helps your immune system do its job,” Dr. Brull tells us.
Fable #5: Consuming 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 probabilities of getting a virus. “Heat liquids don’t forestall diseases,” says Dr. Viola. “They might help you’re feeling hotter, however received’t scale back an individual’s likelihood of getting a chilly.”
What to do as an alternative: Sip away—wam liquids nonetheless provide loads of different advantages. Not solely will they hold you hydrated, however they are often soothing on the throat, says Dr. Viola. The substances in these heat liquids can even help your total well being in different methods; for instance, rooster soup is usually a good supply of protein, whereas tea might comprise good-for-you antioxidants like lemon or ginger.
Fable #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 throughout the winter to stop hypothermia. However there is not any purpose to not train in chilly climate so long as you feel comfy. There are nonetheless loads of choices for understanding 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 together with your train routine throughout winter, and also you really do not even essentially must cease understanding in case you have a light chilly, consultants say. “Train will really strengthen your immune system,” says Yoshua Quinones, M.D., a board-certified internist with Medical Workplaces of Manhattan. Based on the Mayo Clinic, most individuals are wonderful to train if they’ve respiratory signs like a runny nostril or sore throat, although you must let your self relaxation in case you have a fever or muscle soreness.
The underside line
Sadly, you in all probability cannot utterly keep away from getting sick within the winter, and actually, it could be slightly uncommon when you did. Most adults catch two to 4 colds a 12 months, based on Johns Hopkins Medication. 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 in all probability not going to really feel very good to go exterior with moist hair), if you are going to the hassle to keep away from getting sick, you would possibly as properly give attention to methods that actually make a distinction. Meaning washing your fingers usually, getting loads of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet meals so your physique is primed to struggle germs, avoiding contact with others after they’re sick, and staying on prime of your immunizations (that flu shot is a should!).
