Why is it that we catch a cold when the weather is cold? Is this a myth or just a coincidence?
The fact is the common cold does occur more often in winter or when we are cold for extended periods. But you may still be wondering, is it because we stay indoors more and have more chances to transmit the cold virus between each other, or because of other intrinsic reasons?
The answer is the latter.
There is a biological reason for us to catch a cold when we are in the cold, hypothermia, for a long time. People suspect cold temperatures hinder our defense system. Our study that led to the development of AllerPops provides another layer of explanation to the underlying cause.
Do you want to become the few who know this God’s secret? You may read the article here, https://allerpops.com/oral-probiotic-deficiency-may-cause-common-allergies/.
How does our immune system function?
Our immune system is like a car with an accelerator to speed it up and brakes to slow it down. Pathogens stimulate the immune system so it can protect us from diseases, and probiotics (friendly bacteria) slow it down when there is no infection. Like the car, our immune system parks most of the time with the brake — our probiotics applied.
The optimal growth temperature for the probiotics in the upper airway is between 85-98°F. Our body temperature is at the high end of the optimal range. When we are in hypothermia, the temperature shifted to the middle of the spectrum that may help the bacteria grow better and send too many pacifying signals to the immune system. With an increase in messages from the probiotics, our immune system becomes jeopardized.
Without baseline protection, the virus that causes your cold has a better chance to multiply and cause trouble.
This mechanism may contribute to other chronic airway infections, such as chronic bronchitis.
When I was growing up in China, we lived in a house with no heat, and both of my grandparents had severe chronic bronchitis all their lives, especially in winter. The condition was so critical that it eventually contributed to their deaths. My mom also suffered from chronic bronchitis up until she was fifty, and when we moved into a house in the city with heat, the infection went away.
Her recovery seemed like a miracle, but it was merely the result of staying warm in the winter.
Therefore, one way to protect yourself from having a cold is to keep yourself warm, especially avoiding breathing in cold air for a long time. Dry yourself thoroughly after a shower before going out. Wear a scarf when staying outside for a long time.
These blogs reflect the personal opinions of the authors and should not replace medical advice. We recommend you discuss the suggestions in the blogs with your doctor before practicing them.