Don't run with scissors. Wait 40
minutes before swimming after you eat. If you don't dress properly
outdoors you'll catch a cold. Chew your food 24 times before
swallowing. Moms are full of advice, most of which has been handed
down from their mothers. Although it is often good advice, seldom is
it scientifically sound. A recent study, however, gives some
credence to the idea that staying out in cold temperatures can make
you sick. Although through the years many have argued against this
morsel of advice, scientists have found that the rhinovirus, or the common cold, reproduces more
quickly in colder temperatures.
It has been understood for a while
that the common cold replicates itself better in the cooler
temperatures of the nose than the warmer temperatures of the lungs.
Researchers at Yale studied how this fact is related to our immune
response against the virus. They compared the immune response to the
cold virus in mice at 37 degrees Celsius (regular body temperature)
to the immune response in mice at 33 degrees Celsius. They found that
the immune response was not as effective at the cooler temperatures.
They also discovered that the temperature is what made the difference
in how the immune system behaved, not the virus itself. Although this
study was carried out using the immune response of mice, it is very
likely that the principles apply to humans as well. This research not
only backs your mom's advice up, but also could give way to
understanding how cold temperatures can affect children with asthma.
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| Rhinovirus (Wikimedia Commons) |
At any given time approximately
20% of us are carrying the common cold around in our noses. This time
of year is often when it causes us the most trouble. Some good advice
that the CDC, doctors and mothers would agree on is to wash your
hands often with soap and water, try not to touch your eyes, mouth
and nose when your hands are not clean and steer clear of those who
are sick. Do us all a favor and take a sick day if you need to, this
may be easier said than done for some, but it makes a big difference!
Another bit of new advice doctors
might give is to give and receive more hugs. Yes, that's right,
another recent study published in Psychological Science indicated
that people who have more social support and receive more hugs as a
result are less likely to catch the common cold! Additionally, the
researchers found that people who already had a cold and had this
increased level of support and hugs had less severe symptoms. This
research is so new it might be too early to resolve the discrepancy
between the advice to steer clear of sick people and the notion that they need more hugs, nonetheless, some thought provoking information! New
words to live by for a healthy winter: Give hugs, wash your hands,
cover your nose in the cold. I think moms everywhere would approve.
- Science Daily: "Cold virus replicates better at cool temperatures"
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: "Temperature-dependent innate defense against the common cold virus limits viral replication at warm temperatures in mouse airway cells" (Abstract)
- Medical News Today: "Cold noses more vulnerable to catching colds"
- Share it! Science: "What is a virus anyway?
- Medical News Today: "Could a hug a day keep infection at bay?"
Cold Virus Links and Resources:
- "Chilling Out with Colds" health article written for kids
- Brainpop Educators: Cold and Flu lesson plans (May need subscription or free trial to access some things on this site)
- CDC Hand-Washing Experiment lesson plan
- Virus Lander: Learn how rhinovirus (the common cold) infects kids by playing this online game
- American Red Cross: The Scrub Club, interactive website for kids
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