Page 45 - HSMP student project

Myth Busted - Does cold weather affect your health?
By Sarah
veryone has heard the warning from the elders in their family to bundle up before going out of the house, and everyone thinks they know the reasons why: to not catch a cold, of course. However, after doing some research, it became clear that this statement was actually a debatable topic amongst scientists and doctors alike. What you also may not know is that a simple cold can be traced much farther than a change in weather, it actually all starts in your genetic expression.
hen the temperature drops, your genetic expression is disturbed in a manner that increases inflammation. This causes the proteins that stimulate inflammation to be produced at higher rates, and proteins that decrease inflammation to be produced at lower rates. This selective expression ensures that your body is capable of thwarting viruses and bacteria that tend to make our bodies hyper-vulnerable in colder times. While this, in retrospect, seems like it is a great attribute of our genetic system, it does have its downfalls. For example, selective genetic expression makes the body more exposed to the risk of arthritis and hypertension. In addition to that, your risk of catching a disease in colder times is more likely. Technically
Wellness 101 - Spring 2020