Why Do We Get Sick in the Winter?

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Posted: Nov 22nd, 2022 at 03:10PM - by Melissa Tripp

Don't go outside without wearing a hat or you'll catch a cold! Don’t play in the rain. Don't go to bed with wet hair or you'll get sick. These are some of the words you might've heard growing up and might even tell your own children.

It's not uncommon to get sick when the seasons change — especially when the temperature drops. Is there any link between getting sick and the cold weather? While it's true that you're likely to get sick during the colder months, the weather in and of itself isn't entirely responsible for your sickness.

You might get sick in the winter because you spend more time indoors, or your body's defense system might be compromised. Let's dive in!

Why Do We Get Sick in the Winter?

So, why do you more often get the sniffles and a nasty cough in the winter and not during the warmer months? There are two main reasons.

Your Body Isn't as Able to Fight Viruses

A study by Yale University shows that lower temperatures affect immune responses to infections. Cooler temperatures impair essential immune proteins, allowing viruses the ability to spread more rapidly in your body.

Also, breathing in cold air dries out the mucus lining in your nose and eyes responsible for trapping viruses. This makes it easier for viruses to enter your body, leaving you more vulnerable to diseases.

Other factors that lower your immunity during cold weather are constricting of the blood vessels and lack of enough sunlight exposure. The narrowing of blood vessels makes it harder for the white blood cells to travel in your body, therefore hampering their ability to fight disease. Lack of exposure to enough sunlight means that your body produces less vitamin D, which is crucial in strengthening your immunity.

You Spend More Time Indoors

Perhaps unsurprisingly, you're more likely to get sick if you spend more time cooped up inside. For starters, staying indoors means you're closer to your friends, family, and colleagues. This makes it easier for viruses to spread from person to person.

Also, when inside, the constant running of heaters may make air ventilation an issue. This can further create an environment where bacteria, germs, and viruses thrive.

So, it's not simply the coldness making you sick. It's things that happen as a result of coldness: increased time indoors and our bodies' weakened ability to fight illness.

5 Common Illnesses During Winter

If it's the winter season and you start feeling unwell, it might be one of these more common cold-weather illnesses.

1. Flu

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms include a runny nose, fever, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches. Boosting your immune system by going for the annual flu shot is the best way of preventing viral infection.

Contact e7 Health about getting your annual flu shot.

2. Cold

According to CDC, millions of people get the common cold each year in the United States. The common cold is the main reason adults and children miss work and school.

Symptoms are a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, body aches, and coughing. The cold spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or otherwise spreads droplets through the air to someone else.

Colds usually last for approximately seven to 10 days, but they can be more severe if you have a compromised immune system.

3. RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

RSV is a respiratory infection that mostly affects the lungs and airways. Its main symptoms include a runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, wheezing, and sneezing, and the symptoms usually appear in stages.

4. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that causes inflammation in your lungs. You can contract the disease by inhaling infected air or touching surfaces with the virus lurking on them.

Its symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, cough that produces phlegm, loss of appetite, and muscle pain. Pneumonia symptoms vary from mild to severe depending on the germs causing the illness, overall health, and age.

5. Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and tonsils. The disease is spread through respiratory droplets and contact with infected sores.

Its main symptoms are fever, swallowing pain, swollen lymph nodes, and swollen tonsils.

How Can You Stay Healthy During the Winter?

Now that you know more about why you get sick during the winter and what some of the most common culprits are, let's talk about how to stay healthy!

1. Get the Seasonal Flu Shot

Going for an annual flu shot is one of the most effective preventive measures against seasonal flu. Vaccines protect you from getting the flu and also its severity and duration, should you still become ill. It also reduces the chances of spreading the disease to your loved ones.

2. Boost Your Immunity

Weak immunity is one of the reasons you get sick during winter. You can boost your immunity by:

• Eating foods rich in vitamin D or taking vitamin D supplements: The lack of sunlight during winter reduces the vitamin D levels in your body. Food rich in vitamin D and supplements increases the levels in your body, which in turn helps fight germs.
• Stay hydrated: It's easy to forget to stay hydrated during cold seasons. Drinking enough water prevents infection, helps transport nutrients to the organs, and keeps organs functioning well. Not sure how much to drink? Check the color of your urine. The more pigmented it is, the more dehydrated you are.
• Getting enough sleep: Poor sleep weakens your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to bacterial and viral attacks. If you don't wake up feeling rested and need buckets of caffeine to make it through the day, you're lacking proper rest!
• Eat a healthy diet: Incorporate foods rich in vitamin C, along with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This way, you'll get all the micronutrients necessary to stay strong and healthy.
• Move your body: The cold weather might make it hard to even get out of bed. However, exercise comes with plenty of benefits. Namely, it helps strengthen your immunity. It's good for your physical and mental health and boosts your mood.

3. Practice Proper Hygiene

Maintaining proper hygiene will help in controlling the spread of diseases. You can accomplish this by:

• Washing your hands regularly.
• Wearing a mask.
• Sanitizing high-traffic surfaces in your home.
• Using an air purifier.
• Practicing social distancing.
• Avoiding touching your face.

e7 Health has everything you need to stay healthy this winter. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help, book your appointment online, or register as a new patient.

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