Grandmas everywhere have long warned us about the risks of being cold and catching the nasty virus, operating under the same belief system that stepping outside without enough layers on or venturing beyond the front door with wet hair is a fast-track ticket to getting the flu.
It’s a tale as old as time, but how much truth is there to the theory?
Well, Dr Cal, our ‘science pal’ with a PhD in genetic medicine who hails from the States but now lives and works in London, has all the answers.
The doc said viruses can latch on if your defenses are down (Getty Images)
The medic shares her insights and discoveries to her 82,900 TikTok followers and in a recent video, she revealed the ‘truth’ behind the theory.
Dr Cal said: “Can you catch a cold by being cold? Not really, but kind of.”
While a confusing answer, the doc explained colds are caused by viruses, ‘which means you can’t get sick unless you actually catch the virus’, which sounds promising.
However, that’s not a pass to start gallivanting off into the snow in a pair of flip-flops, as Dr Cal said our body’s ‘first line of defense’ against nasty airborne viruses is ‘the specialized layer of cells that lines your upper airway’.
For our cells to be in tip-top shape, the doc says they have to be warm (Getty Images)
These cells are essential as they produce a ‘thick sticky mucus that will catch and trap the pathogens that you breathe in’ as well as molecular brooms, called cilia, that ‘sweep that mucus with those pathogens up and out of your airway’, she added.
In other words, keeping these cells in happy, thriving conditions will fight back against any cold or flu viruses attempting to attack your system.
The problem is, these cells need to be kept in a warm, moist environment, which Dr Cal said the inside of our bodies ‘normally is’ – until the weather turns cold.
She continued: “During the winter when you’re breathing in cold, dry air all day, this layer of cells can actually get damaged. And you’ve probably felt this before if you’ve ever slept in a really cold dry room and then you wake up and your throat hurts.
“But then, when you have a nice hot steamy shower or you drink something warm, you feel better because you’re replenishing that warm, moist environment.
“However, if a viral particle enters your system while your defenses are down, it’s going to have a much easier time infecting you.”
Dr Cal explains what this means is that while being cold itself can’t trigger sickness, it does make us ‘a lot more susceptible to the viruses that do’.
So, another victory for grandma on this one!
