It happens every winter.
You leave the house without a coat and someone calls after you…
“You’ll catch your death!”
Or perhaps your grandmother always insisted you dry your hair before going outside because “that’s how people catch colds.”
We’ve heard these warnings for generations.
But is there actually any truth in them?
The answer may surprise you.
Colds are caused by viruses
Let’s start with one simple fact.
A cold is caused by a virus.
Not by cold weather.
Not by getting caught in the rain.
Not by forgetting your scarf.
More than 200 different viruses can cause what we call the common cold, with rhinoviruses being the most common.
If you haven’t come into contact with one of these viruses, simply standing outside on a chilly morning won’t give you a cold.
So why do so many people seem to become ill during winter?
Winter changes our behaviour
The weather itself isn’t the culprit.
We are.
When it’s cold outside, we spend much more time indoors.
Families gather in living rooms, children spend longer in classrooms and commuters pack onto buses and trains with the windows closed.
Viruses love this.
The closer we are to one another, the easier they spread through tiny droplets released when someone coughs, sneezes or even talks.
In other words, winter creates the perfect opportunity for viruses to move from one person to the next.
Does cold air play any part?
Possibly.
Some research suggests that cold, dry air may slightly reduce our nose’s ability to defend itself against invading viruses.
The tiny hairs and mucus lining our nose normally trap germs before they cause trouble.
When the air becomes cold and dry, these natural defences may not work quite as effectively.
Scientists are still studying exactly how important this effect is, but it certainly doesn’t mean cold weather alone causes colds.
The virus still has to be there.
What about getting wet?
Being soaked to the skin after an unexpected downpour isn’t pleasant.
You might feel miserable, shiver for a while and desperately want a hot drink.
But getting wet doesn’t create viruses.
If you’re otherwise healthy, you’ll simply dry off and warm up.
The rain itself isn’t infectious.
How can you reduce your chances of catching a cold?
You can’t avoid every virus, but you can stack the odds in your favour.
Wash your hands regularly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth unnecessarily.
Try to keep your distance from people who are clearly unwell where possible.
Get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and stay physically active.
These simple habits help your immune system do what it was designed to do.
Should you take antibiotics?
This is an important point.
Antibiotics kill bacteria.
Colds are caused by viruses.
That means antibiotics won’t cure a common cold, shorten its duration or stop you passing it on to someone else.
Taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed can also contribute to antibiotic resistance, making them less effective when we genuinely need them.
Sometimes the best medicine really is rest, fluids and a little patience.
So why does the myth survive?
Probably because we’ve all experienced it.
You go out on a freezing day.
Two days later, you wake up with a runny nose.
It’s easy to blame the weather.
In reality, you were almost certainly exposed to the virus a day or two earlier, perhaps at work, on public transport or while shopping.
The timing makes the weather look guilty when, in fact, it was just an innocent bystander.
A final thought
Some health myths survive because there’s a tiny grain of truth hidden inside them.
Cold weather doesn’t cause colds.
But winter does create the perfect conditions for viruses to spread more easily.
So by all means wear your coat if it’s freezing.
Not because it will stop you catching a cold, but because nobody enjoys being cold.
And if your grandmother still reminds you to wrap up warm, it may be easier just to smile and say, “Yes, Grandma.”
After all, some traditions are worth keeping, even if the science has moved on.
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