It's chill and windy today, does that make me more likely to get sick?
October 27, 2017 3:17 PM Subscribe
I just came in from the grocery store, wearing just a shirt, as it was warm and sunny when I left. Everybody else is bundled up and it's in the 50s. Got me to thinking, does being chilled actually make any difference w/r/t catching cold or whatever? Aside from a bit of discomfort I mean. Don't colds and flu etc come from a virus? I think about football players, they seem to do ok. Just curious.
Best answer: There is A Scientific Reason That Cold Weather Could Cause Colds
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:19 PM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:19 PM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Does Cold Weather Make You Sick?
“Getting cold and damp does not have a noteworthy effect on whether or not you get sick,” says William Schaffner, M.D., of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.posted by kittydelsol at 7:23 PM on October 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
So why do we tend to catch more colds and flu during the colder months? There are a couple of explanations.
One is that we spend more time indoors, closer to people who might be breathing germs on us. The other: Cold air tends to be drier, and lower humidity helps viruses survive in the air.
A really dramatic change in the weather - which usually means a change in humidity, barometric pressure, airborne allergens - will sometimes net me a respiratory infection from the allergens alongside the other conditions. That's not a cold or a virus, it's basically an autoimmune attack resulting in infection.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:35 PM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 8:35 PM on October 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: For nearly a decade I've thought nothing of 20-25 minute commutes by bicycle in temperatures down to the 30s F wearing nothing more than a couple of tees, gloves, and jeans. Before I did so, I rarely got sick, and after I did so still rarely got sick. I've never been able to find a correlation myself.
I've never understood how getting somewhat chilled for a bit was supposed to make you ill. By what mechanism? If humans were that delicate a flower we'd never have colonized outside the tropics.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:59 PM on October 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've never understood how getting somewhat chilled for a bit was supposed to make you ill. By what mechanism? If humans were that delicate a flower we'd never have colonized outside the tropics.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:59 PM on October 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: There is A Scientific Reason That Cold Weather Could Cause Colds
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 9:19 PM on October 27
The takeaway on this article is this: In the cooler nasal cavity cells, this warning system was less efficient however, and allowed the virus to spread more easily.
And also this: more immediately relevant for those about to venture outdoors, we now know that covering your nose might actually help it stay cold-free, in more than one way.
So maybe a scarf is called for -- I'd be down for that, no problem-o.
~~~~~
One (explanation) is that we spend more time indoors, closer to people who might be breathing germs on us. The other: Cold air tends to be drier, and lower humidity helps viruses survive in the air.
posted by kittydelsol at 9:23 PM on October 27
I mentor a few younger guys, I normally meet with one of them on Thursday nights, he and I were setting up the meet and he tells me his daughter is sick, probably the flu -- I told him we're not going to get together this week thank you very much.
~~~~~
... will sometimes net me a respiratory infection from the allergens alongside the other conditions. That's not a cold or a virus, ...
posted by Lyn Never at 10:35 PM on October 27
I take generic claritin daily, and this time of year I sometimes take two -- the instant I notice my eyes watering, or some sneezing coming on, I bounce from one tablet to two. We have not yet had a freeze here -- we don't have them every year -- after a hard freeze it's total allergen insanity for a couple of weeks. Gawd. Anyways, I've got this part covered.
~~~~~
For nearly a decade I've thought nothing of 20-25 minute commutes by bicycle in temperatures down to the 30s F ...
I've never understood how getting somewhat chilled for a bit was supposed to make you ill. By what mechanism?
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 11:59 PM on October 27
This Ask is coming out of my riding my mountain bike 11 miles every day -- I'm wondering how far down in wind chill I can go, how much discomfort I can deal with. I have to wear windproof gloves, else I cannot shift, as my fingers go numb. But aside from that, it's just discomfort. If football players can stand outdoors for an entire game, I ought to be able to deal with a bit of that, too, right?*
*Why yes, yes I do appreciate the stoics -- why do you ask?
posted by dancestoblue at 11:12 PM on October 27, 2017
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 9:19 PM on October 27
The takeaway on this article is this: In the cooler nasal cavity cells, this warning system was less efficient however, and allowed the virus to spread more easily.
And also this: more immediately relevant for those about to venture outdoors, we now know that covering your nose might actually help it stay cold-free, in more than one way.
So maybe a scarf is called for -- I'd be down for that, no problem-o.
~~~~~
One (explanation) is that we spend more time indoors, closer to people who might be breathing germs on us. The other: Cold air tends to be drier, and lower humidity helps viruses survive in the air.
posted by kittydelsol at 9:23 PM on October 27
I mentor a few younger guys, I normally meet with one of them on Thursday nights, he and I were setting up the meet and he tells me his daughter is sick, probably the flu -- I told him we're not going to get together this week thank you very much.
~~~~~
... will sometimes net me a respiratory infection from the allergens alongside the other conditions. That's not a cold or a virus, ...
posted by Lyn Never at 10:35 PM on October 27
I take generic claritin daily, and this time of year I sometimes take two -- the instant I notice my eyes watering, or some sneezing coming on, I bounce from one tablet to two. We have not yet had a freeze here -- we don't have them every year -- after a hard freeze it's total allergen insanity for a couple of weeks. Gawd. Anyways, I've got this part covered.
~~~~~
For nearly a decade I've thought nothing of 20-25 minute commutes by bicycle in temperatures down to the 30s F ...
I've never understood how getting somewhat chilled for a bit was supposed to make you ill. By what mechanism?
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 11:59 PM on October 27
This Ask is coming out of my riding my mountain bike 11 miles every day -- I'm wondering how far down in wind chill I can go, how much discomfort I can deal with. I have to wear windproof gloves, else I cannot shift, as my fingers go numb. But aside from that, it's just discomfort. If football players can stand outdoors for an entire game, I ought to be able to deal with a bit of that, too, right?*
*Why yes, yes I do appreciate the stoics -- why do you ask?
posted by dancestoblue at 11:12 PM on October 27, 2017
You probably can deal with it. On a bike I'm guessing you'll get bad windchill on your upper body and arms while your core temperature is OK because you're also generating a lot of compensating heat in your legs, etc. So pretty safe unless you're in a freezing climate (hypothermia is a thing), but also pretty uncomfortable. Which raises the question, why suffer discomfort that's easily avoidable?
posted by Segundus at 2:10 AM on October 28, 2017
posted by Segundus at 2:10 AM on October 28, 2017
Football players don't stand outside for entire games, they're only out for about 60-70 minutes at a time before going back indoors, and for most of the intervening times they're in a human-heated microclimate, clustered in groups on the sidelines proximal to a lot of other exothermic bodies. This would sound like a prime cold-and-flu breeding ground to me, but since the team owners have a lot of money on the line I assume they also try to be proactive about potential consequences.
posted by ardgedee at 2:46 AM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 2:46 AM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
I take generic claritin daily, and this time of year I sometimes take two
Anecdotally, I would always get my worst colds during allergy season (spring/summer), when I am taking anti-allergy meds.
My theory is that since allergic reactions are caused by an exaggerated immune system response, and the point of most anti-allergy meds is to suppress that immune response, that I am more susceptible to illness as a result.
I don't take claritin/allegra/zyrtec etc in the fall/winter and I don't generally get as sick (as long or often) during those seasons as I do during allergy season, even though it is colder and I am actually outdoors more (because no allergies).
Furthermore - since I moved to the desert from the Mid-Waste and don't suffer an allergy season that is as long or as bad as it was, I don't take nearly as much anti-allergy meds. I haven't gotten as sick as I would have before I moved.
Plus, I touch my face a lot more when I have allergies - blowing my nose, rubbing my eyes and so on. So I get extra special neurotic about hand and face washing during allergy season.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:00 AM on October 28, 2017
Anecdotally, I would always get my worst colds during allergy season (spring/summer), when I am taking anti-allergy meds.
My theory is that since allergic reactions are caused by an exaggerated immune system response, and the point of most anti-allergy meds is to suppress that immune response, that I am more susceptible to illness as a result.
I don't take claritin/allegra/zyrtec etc in the fall/winter and I don't generally get as sick (as long or often) during those seasons as I do during allergy season, even though it is colder and I am actually outdoors more (because no allergies).
Furthermore - since I moved to the desert from the Mid-Waste and don't suffer an allergy season that is as long or as bad as it was, I don't take nearly as much anti-allergy meds. I haven't gotten as sick as I would have before I moved.
Plus, I touch my face a lot more when I have allergies - blowing my nose, rubbing my eyes and so on. So I get extra special neurotic about hand and face washing during allergy season.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:00 AM on October 28, 2017
Best answer: This Ask is coming out of my riding my mountain bike 11 miles every day…
Aha! A person after my own heart. Knowing this, I can give you specifics of what I've found to be true for me about cold weather riding. As an added bonus, it's a least tangentially related to your direct question!
For riding, after several years of experimentation, I've found the combination of a slightly undersized tight white tee+long sleeved tee, to be the combo that works best for me from 45° down to 30°. Beyond that, I get too chilled for something that light. The key in this setup is the tight under layer. I found just preventing free air flow across my torso is a huge key to keeping warm. Like you, I have to use gloves for wind protection after it drops below 50° or so. Long skinny fingers and cold wind do not agree.
I see everyone bundled up and wearing baklavas here in Seattle every time the highs begin dropping below 55°, and I just boggle at the people doing it. I'd be swimming in sweat. It's like most people don't even realize 50-55° is the same temperature of a summer's morning here, and they didn't seem to mind then. But I digress…Getting rid of heat for my commutes was always my problem, not retaining it, hence the light gear. Here's the rub though—for me there's a tipping point in cold weather beyond which I need heavier gear, and it's not temperature so much as it is distance. Around ten miles I start to feel more chilled and need to break out a heavier item. I generate an awful lot of heat while biking—more than most everyone else, judging by the arctic gear people break out each October here—but after the initial burst of riding, it seems to be just a little less than I need to stay warm long distance.
The colder the weather the shorter the distance before I get unpleasantly chilled, naturally, and of course the terrain, whether flat or hilly, can tilt that time before chill one way or the other. That's never been a problem for me though, since my Randonneur has front bag, and my commuter/tourer has a handy saddle bag. Ever since discovering the joys of panniers and other bike bags, I've flat-out refused to wear bags. The swampy back they cause is just miserable.
I've done the 55 mile loop of Lake Washington here many times in the cold months, miserably chilled more than once when I misjudged or forgot an extra layer, and have never had any knock-on effects I've been able to discern. Nothing puts a faster grin on my face though than the nod-of-fellowship both riders give when you pass a fellow stoic shorts-and-tee rider in 45° weather. It's always amusing.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:59 AM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Aha! A person after my own heart. Knowing this, I can give you specifics of what I've found to be true for me about cold weather riding. As an added bonus, it's a least tangentially related to your direct question!
For riding, after several years of experimentation, I've found the combination of a slightly undersized tight white tee+long sleeved tee, to be the combo that works best for me from 45° down to 30°. Beyond that, I get too chilled for something that light. The key in this setup is the tight under layer. I found just preventing free air flow across my torso is a huge key to keeping warm. Like you, I have to use gloves for wind protection after it drops below 50° or so. Long skinny fingers and cold wind do not agree.
I see everyone bundled up and wearing baklavas here in Seattle every time the highs begin dropping below 55°, and I just boggle at the people doing it. I'd be swimming in sweat. It's like most people don't even realize 50-55° is the same temperature of a summer's morning here, and they didn't seem to mind then. But I digress…Getting rid of heat for my commutes was always my problem, not retaining it, hence the light gear. Here's the rub though—for me there's a tipping point in cold weather beyond which I need heavier gear, and it's not temperature so much as it is distance. Around ten miles I start to feel more chilled and need to break out a heavier item. I generate an awful lot of heat while biking—more than most everyone else, judging by the arctic gear people break out each October here—but after the initial burst of riding, it seems to be just a little less than I need to stay warm long distance.
The colder the weather the shorter the distance before I get unpleasantly chilled, naturally, and of course the terrain, whether flat or hilly, can tilt that time before chill one way or the other. That's never been a problem for me though, since my Randonneur has front bag, and my commuter/tourer has a handy saddle bag. Ever since discovering the joys of panniers and other bike bags, I've flat-out refused to wear bags. The swampy back they cause is just miserable.
I've done the 55 mile loop of Lake Washington here many times in the cold months, miserably chilled more than once when I misjudged or forgot an extra layer, and have never had any knock-on effects I've been able to discern. Nothing puts a faster grin on my face though than the nod-of-fellowship both riders give when you pass a fellow stoic shorts-and-tee rider in 45° weather. It's always amusing.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:59 AM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
“Getting cold and damp does not have a noteworthy effect on whether or not you get sick,” says William Schaffner, M.D., of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
We might want to qualify that statement somewhat, Doctor Schaffner will want to bundle up a bit if he's tending to livestock on a farm in Canada in February, but he does go on to mention the importance of proper clothing.
The Coldness, along with hunger, lack of sleep, & emotional complications, are some of the stresses on the immune system which tend to invite illness. (which is why I'm annoyed when some people say that ulcers are not caused by stress, but by the H pylori bacterium, which is technically true, but misses the point that stress compromises the immune system.) Young healthy people like football players have fairly strong immune systems and can deal with physical body stresses like cold damp weather. But as we get older, then it gets more complicated.
posted by ovvl at 8:38 PM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
We might want to qualify that statement somewhat, Doctor Schaffner will want to bundle up a bit if he's tending to livestock on a farm in Canada in February, but he does go on to mention the importance of proper clothing.
The Coldness, along with hunger, lack of sleep, & emotional complications, are some of the stresses on the immune system which tend to invite illness. (which is why I'm annoyed when some people say that ulcers are not caused by stress, but by the H pylori bacterium, which is technically true, but misses the point that stress compromises the immune system.) Young healthy people like football players have fairly strong immune systems and can deal with physical body stresses like cold damp weather. But as we get older, then it gets more complicated.
posted by ovvl at 8:38 PM on October 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: 5 ways NFL athletes keep from freezing on the field
I read this with particular interest as the temperatures have dropped like 25 degrees F since yesterday, and, worse, the wind is blasting us down here.
This following is off AccuWeather for ATX:
TRAVIS COUNTY:
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...
* TIMING...This afternoon and evening.
* WINDS...North to Northwest 20 to 30 MPH with gusts to 40 MPH,
isolated 45 MPH.
So. My bike ride will be particularly interesting tonight; I'd held off hoping that the wind would slack some, and it has slacked, some, but it's still plenty uncomfortable out there.
I bought some really good gloves off Amazon yesterday -- how I wish they'd arrived today! They appear to have plenty of room for another pair of gloves, maybe even one of those handwarmers. But they're not here yet, so tonight will be a suffering.
~~~~~
At least it's not raining, or snowing/sleeting, which I've run into a few times this year -- gawd. I've got tires on the bike that are fairly bullet-proof, but flats can happen at any time, one happened on one of those rain days before the Solstice, and of course it was on the back tire, and while I was able to get it changed out my fingers were *gone* by the time I started back on the trail, and when my fingers go it's not long til everything else follows, I slow down cuz I can't brake or shift well and that just puts me out in the weather even *longer* -- nightmare time. I've taken to leaving the key in the lock on my front door on days that are even a little cold, as there is no. way. I can grasp it once I'm that cold -- one night I dropped it, had to go to a neighbors and ask her to plz open my door....
posted by dancestoblue at 4:37 PM on January 11, 2018
I read this with particular interest as the temperatures have dropped like 25 degrees F since yesterday, and, worse, the wind is blasting us down here.
This following is off AccuWeather for ATX:
TRAVIS COUNTY:
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...
* TIMING...This afternoon and evening.
* WINDS...North to Northwest 20 to 30 MPH with gusts to 40 MPH,
isolated 45 MPH.
So. My bike ride will be particularly interesting tonight; I'd held off hoping that the wind would slack some, and it has slacked, some, but it's still plenty uncomfortable out there.
I bought some really good gloves off Amazon yesterday -- how I wish they'd arrived today! They appear to have plenty of room for another pair of gloves, maybe even one of those handwarmers. But they're not here yet, so tonight will be a suffering.
~~~~~
At least it's not raining, or snowing/sleeting, which I've run into a few times this year -- gawd. I've got tires on the bike that are fairly bullet-proof, but flats can happen at any time, one happened on one of those rain days before the Solstice, and of course it was on the back tire, and while I was able to get it changed out my fingers were *gone* by the time I started back on the trail, and when my fingers go it's not long til everything else follows, I slow down cuz I can't brake or shift well and that just puts me out in the weather even *longer* -- nightmare time. I've taken to leaving the key in the lock on my front door on days that are even a little cold, as there is no. way. I can grasp it once I'm that cold -- one night I dropped it, had to go to a neighbors and ask her to plz open my door....
posted by dancestoblue at 4:37 PM on January 11, 2018
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posted by theora55 at 3:25 PM on October 27, 2017