You may associate the cold weather with being sick or catching a cold. Contrary to the old saying, the weather is not directly responsible for making you sick, but it can affect your body.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people in the U.S. develop the common cold each year. On average, most adults get two or three colds a year. Colds are typically caused by rhinovirus or one of 200 other viruses. You are exposed to these viruses your whole life and year-round, but your body may respond in different ways during different times of the year.
During the winter months, outdoor temperatures drop, and humidity is low making the air dry. Add this to the increased time spent inside your heated house, exposing you to more dry air as well as environmental allergens, and you increase the chances of experiencing cold-like symptoms, allergies, or other respiratory issues. Additionally, the dry air, allergens, and cold temperatures can decrease blood flow to the nose and ears and may aggravate the symptoms of a cold.
Symptoms of a cold vary, but may include:
– Runny or stuffy nose
– Sore throat
– Cough
– Congestion
– Slight body aches or a mild headache
– Sneezing
– Low-grade fever
If you do get a cold, the best treatment is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Most colds go away on their own. Viral infections will typically clear up within seven to 14 days. If your symptoms get worse or do not go away in 14 days, you should call your doctor.
You should also follow these simple tips when you have a cold:
– Wash your hands often and cover your mouth with a tissue or in your elbow when coughing and sneezing to prevent sharing your cold with others.
– Drink plenty of fluids to stay well hydrated. Lemon tea with honey or hot water can also help soothe throats and reduce cough.
– Get lots of rest and sleep.
– Use humidifiers and vaporizers, especially at night, to help ease respiratory symptoms.
– Ask you doctor about safe, over the counter medications for your symptoms.
Protect Yourself When It’s Cold Outside
Cold temperatures also affect the body in other ways.
The heart. If you haven’t exerted yourself all year, shoveling a heavy snowfall will add strain to your heart. Pay attention to significant chest discomfort during or after exertion (and not only in the winter months). Telling the difference between chest pain due to your heart versus muscle/ligament strain or heartburn can be difficult. If you have risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, history of smoking or history of a heart attack, you should seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The lungs. Cold weather can particularly affect patients with asthma or COPD by triggering inflammation and spasm of the airways.
The head. Changes in barometric pressure and drop in temperature can trigger migraines.
To help combat the negative effects of cold, follow these tips.
– Cold temperatures, high winds and dampness can steal our body heat and decrease our core temperature. Dress in layers and cover your head to prevent hypothermia, which can severely strain your cardiovascular system.
– Take frequent breaks when shoveling snow, and don’t eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol beforehand. Use a small shovel or, if available, a snow blower, to avoid excessive strain.
– If you’ve been sweating and start shivering, seek shelter, warmth, and change your clothes.
– If breathing the cold air causes discomfort, loosely cover your mouth or nose with a handkerchief or scarf.
Preventing a Cold
There is no guaranteed strategy for staying healthy, but there are steps you can take to decrease your chances of getting sick.
– Always practice good hygiene and handwashing – scrub with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, alcohol sanitizers are acceptable. It’s the 20 seconds of abrasion between the hands that matters, not the solvent.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick and take a sick day when you don’t feel well.
– Sneeze and cough into tissues. Discard used tissues right away. Then thoroughly wash your hands.
– Take care of yourself. Eating well, getting exercise, making sure your vaccines are up to date, committing to quality sleep and managing stress might help you avoid getting sick.
– Keep your space tidy and clean. Clean kitchen and bathroom countertops with disinfectant, especially when someone in your family has a cold. Be diligent about wiping down doorknobs and frequently touched surfaces.
Cold and flu season is upon us and with it comes the flurry of well-meaning advice handed down through generations. So do bundle up when it is cold outside, but don’t worry about catching a cold just because it’s cold.
by Carrie Timko, M.D.
Family Medicine, UPMC
Carrie Timko, M.D., is with UPMC Family Medicine and sees patients at Primary Care at UPMC Outpatient Center, 610 High St., Lock Haven. To make an appointment with Dr. Timko, call 570-748-1250, and to learn more about UPMC Family Medicine Services, go to UPMC.com/PrimaryCareNCPA.
