Why Do People Get Colds in Cold Weather?

Why do people get colds in cold weather? originally appeared on Quora: the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. Answer by Keck Medicine of USC, 500+ internationally renowned doctors at a leading academic medical center, on Quora: It's common knowledge we are all more likely to get sick during winter. But what does science have to say about why? You're outside on an unexpectedly chilly day. You forgot to wear your hat and gloves and now you're shivering. Is it a given that you're going to catch a cold or come down with the flu? Maybe. Cold weather doesn't make you sick, germs do, but research suggests that cold weather can create conditions that help those germs survive and thrive. Here, we investigate 5 reasons why you're more likely to get sick in the colder winter months: 1. You're indoors more. Being stuck indoors increases your risk of getting sick in a few different ways. Researchers in China and at Virginia Tech have found students may get sick more frequently when their dorms are poorly ventilated and lacking humidity. Why? Researchers suspect that the germs in the droplets from a sneeze are able to survive better in dry air. It follows that this logic could apply to your cramped office cubicle, too. 2. You're exposed to more germs. When you spend more times indoors, you are exposed to more germs. Germs love to live on doorknobs, sink faucets, keyboards and a number of other items that your co-worker, room...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news