Outside, the temperatures drop – in many places to double-digit minus degrees. In the house, people cough, sniff and sneeze. Colds spread in winter. Is the cold to blame for that? And do you risk a cold if you don’t dress warm enough or forget the scarf?
For medical professionals, the case is clear: colds are caused by viruses. So far it has not been possible to prove that cold alone can cause a cold. However, cold can favor an infection – namely when the body is already fighting pathogens and cold does immune system additionally burdened.
Another reason for the fact that colds occur frequently in winter is that there is an increased risk of infection in the cold season, because people prefer to stay in heated and poorly ventilated rooms. This is an unfavorable combination, in two ways: First, the heat dries out the nasal mucous membranes and thus makes them more permeable to germs. On the other hand, pathogens can easily spread in closed rooms through droplet infection. “Crowds of people in combination with poor ventilation undoubtedly increase the risk of infection,” writes the “Pharmaceutical newspaper“.
What protects against a cold?
To protect against a cold, nobody has to go without winter walks – on the contrary. Doctors recommend healthy people to go out even in winter, to move around a lot and to pay attention to suitable clothing. A varied and nutrient-rich diet can also support the immune system and thus help prevent colds.
And in the event that it got you: drinking a lot helps to loosen and cough up the mucus in the airways. Water and tea are best suited. It also makes sense to give your body rest and time so that it can fight the pathogens effectively. And that includes: giving up everyday tasks, reducing stress, breaks and lots of sleep.
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