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Flu and colds are common in winter. However, it is not the cold which is responsible for these illnesses but rather viruses and bacteria. Low temperatures still create a favorable situation for their spread.
In recent days, the “Moscow-Paris” has arrived in France and is causing temperatures to drop. After a mild and humid start to winter, this episode of cold, unprecedented for six years, surprised the French. Faced with this freezing weather, you have certainly heard these tips : “Cover yourself well, put on a hat, scarf and gloves, dry your hair well before going out, otherwise you will catch a cold…” But can you really get sick from the cold?
According to a study published in December 2022 by doctors from Boston University, in the United States, the cold would be partly responsible for winter illnesses (angina, flu, nasopharyngitis). Researchers have found that when the temperature of the nose, usually 36-37°C, drops to 32°C, the nasal walls are weakened. “The cold weakens the nasal walls, which are the first entry points for viruses and bacteria”explains Yannick Simonin, professor of virology at the University of Montpellier. “The nasal walls release fewer antibodies and this limits their defense capacity against viruses”continues the professor.
The cold weakens the body
This conclusion contradicts old studies which considered that the cold had no repercussions on our immune system. If this study is considered “a great advance in the scientific community” according to Yannick Simonin, his conclusions remain to be qualified, underlines Océane Sorel, doctor in virology and scientific popularizer under the pseudonym of The French Virologist, because “the experiments were carried out in vitro and not in real conditions”.
Concretely, if it is possible for the cold to weaken the immune system, one thing is certain: it cannot not, on his own, make sick. “You can go out with wet hair, or in a shirt under -5°C, if you do not encounter a virus I assure you that you will not get sickassures Yannick Simonin. Low temperatures create favorable situations for the development of diseases, but it is not the cold itself that infects us, it is not a disease.he adds.
The winter climate favors the circulation of viruses
The cold is therefore not the only culprit. But why then are we sicker in winter? There are two main explanations. First, during this period, viruses remain better in the air. “The cold preserves viruses, especially the one responsible for the flu”notes Océane Sorel. “Cold temperatures do not degrade viruses, unlike hot climates”, confirms Yannick Simonin. It is therefore more likely to encounter viruses in the air in winter than in summer.
The increase in illnesses at this time of year, as is the case with Covid, can also be explained by lifestyles which change depending on temperatures. “In winter, we tend to find ourselves in enclosed spaces, offices for example, and to ventilate lessunderlines Yannick Simonin. This greatly promotes the transmission of viruses and bacteria between humans.” Diseases are transmitted there because of droplets projected by coughs and sneezes.
Viruses and bacteria are always responsible for our winter illnesses. It is therefore not possible to get sick just because you were cold. But while waiting for the studies to become clearer, covering your nose, to maintain a temperature above 32°C, is perhaps not a bad idea.