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Believers of old folk wisdom now have scientific evidence to support the idea that cold weather or drafts makes people more susceptible to the common cold.
Yale News is reporting that a team of Yale researchers have published a report that lower temperature in the nasal cavity diminishes the body's immune response, reducing the ability to ward off rhinovirus.
They found that the innate immune response to the rhinovirus is impaired at the lower body temperature compared to the core body temperature. The reason for the impairment is the lower production of Type I Interferon in the cooler nasal cavities. Type I Interferon is a signaling agent to signal the body's antiviral immune responses. With reduced immune response the rhinovirus is more able to establish a foot hold.
"The study also strongly suggested that the varying temperatures influenced the immune response, rather than the virus itself" said study senior author and Yale professor of immunobiology Akiko Iwasaki.
The study abstract (paywalled) at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explains that rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, replicate better at the cooler temperatures (33°C) found in the nasal cavity than at lung temperature (37°C), but previously the underlying mechanisms for this difference were not known. The principal discovery is the reduced interferon signaling at cooler nasal temperatures.
One would think that the Asian tradition of wearing surgical masks when they have a cold might be more effective if worn before they catch a cold.
(Score: 2) by digitalaudiorock on Saturday January 10 2015, @06:34PM
If the cold weather was that significant a factor in getting sick, I'd expect there to be significant statistics showing more illness in colder climates. I could be wrong, but I don't think any such statistics exist. The article seems to indicate that the jury's not out the topic, but I've personally never believed the cold to be a significant factor. I still tend to believe that the "cold season" is more about kids going back to school and spreading illnesses around, people spending more time indoors in close proximity etc.
(Score: 2) by gringer on Saturday January 10 2015, @07:26PM
I still tend to believe that the "cold season" is more about kids going back to school and spreading illnesses around, people spending more time indoors in close proximity etc.
Except it happens in New Zealand as well, where we have winter in the middle of the year with almost no winter holidays.
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