JACKSON, Miss. – With temperatures constantly fluctuating hot one day and cold the next you may be wondering if the weather change and cold temperatures make you sick. The answer is no, it won’t.
Cold temperature does not make you sick. Some studies show that it can weaken your immune system which makes you more likely to catch a cold, but others will disagree. You need to actually come into contact with the bacteria or virus to get sick.
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the top cause for how the cold and flu are spread is when people are sick and they are talking, coughing or sneezing.
You can also get sick by touching a surface or object that has a virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
So why do you get sick more frequently in the winter than any other time of the year? That’s because the cold weather tends to keep people indoors more where germs are lurking and can get you. CDC says the cold flu season runs typically from October to April every year.
Young children, seniors, pregnant women and those that already have medical problems are more at risk of getting sick than others.
Studies show the best way to avoid getting the flu or sick are by eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep and keeping your stress down. Getting the flu vaccination once a year has proved to be the most effective way to avoid coming into contact with the virus.
