KNOXVILLE, TN – People commonly say the cold weather is making them sick. But can cold weather make you sick, or is that just a myth?
“So the cold weather itself doesn’t cause the cold, as some people might have been told, but the cold weather does maybe contribute to conditions that make it more likely that you’ll catch a cold or flu,” said Dr. Mark Rasnake, head of infection control at UT Medical Center. “When it’s cold, we all huddle inside – close contact with others that are sick.”
To underscore, cold weather itself doesn’t make you sick, but certain germs do thrive in colder temperatures.
“Cold, dry air makes certain viruses like the flu virus survive longer in the environment than when it’s warm and humid. So it floats around in the air longer, more likely to get you sick,” said Dr. Rasnake.
Dr. Rasnake says he believes schools did the right think by cancelling classes this week to give everyone a chance to stay home and recover.
