Page 47 - HSMP student project

s reported by The Washington Post, cold, dry air cuts down on the healthy mucus that’s supposed to coat areas of your respiratory system, leaving airways more susceptible to unpleasant microbial visitors. Similar to MedicalNewsToday, the article does acknowledge the difference between colds and allergies. They claim that allergies definitely rear their ugly heads when the seasons shift because different pollens and other allergens are
wafting through the air. However, if we’re talking about colds and other upper respiratory infections, doctors say infection rates are fairly consistent throughout the year. Additionally, the dropping temperature proves friendlier for cold and flu viruses floating
through the air. The source explicitly states that while cold weather can't make you sick, cold weather can make you more likely to get sick in several ways.
ased on my research, cold weather does not inherently make one sick. However, the cold makes air dryer and
lowers the temperature, which not only clears out healthy mucus that should protect your respiratory system but makes it easier for viruses to spread in the air, making our immune system weaker. However, sometimes people can mistake seasonal allergies for illnesses, and even so, some of these illnesses are year-round. The point I want to make with my fellow community members is that cold weather, or even just temperature changes, can impact your health, whether it be weakening the immune system or irritating your respiratory system.
Wellness 101 - Spring 2020