Cold temperatures are associated with colds, the flu, and runny noses, but cold air does not make you sick. If you find yourself getting sicker during the cooler months, this could be because of the lack of air humidity and the increase in indoor gatherings.
Being Sick From the Cold: What’s True?
A common misconception is that cold weather causes illness. In reality, it’s germs like bacteria and viruses that cause infections. This misconception tends to be due to the rise ininfluenzaand other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months.
Research theorizes that the cooler months are related to an increase in illness for several reasons:
What to Do When You Feel a Cold Coming On
Exacerbated Conditions and Symptoms
Most people will recover from viral illnesses on their own within two weeks. However, people with chronic conditions or who areimmunocompromisedmay develop serious symptoms.
Viral infections like influenza can cause serious complications likepneumoniafrom the influenza virus or an opportunistic infection from bacteria.
Viral infections can also make chronic conditions likeasthma, diabetes, and chronic heart disease worse. People who are 65 years and older, pregnant, or young children are also at risk for serious complications.
10 Reasons Why You Keep Getting Sick
How to Boost Immunity and Stay Warm
There is no one way to boost immunity, but there are several ways to help support the immune system and potentially prevent illness when it is cold outside.
One of the best ways to prevent certain illnesses is to get vaccines when available. Theflu vaccineandpneumonia vaccinecan help prevent infection and complications related to the condition.
Other ways to boost immunity include:
Though many stores sell immune-boosting supplements and powders, research has not found that these supplements provide enough of an immune boost to prevent infection or disease. If someone feels that they are not getting enough nutrients in their diet, then a multivitamin or mineral supplement can provide benefits.
Benefits of Fresh AirGoing outside and getting some fresh air can have health benefits. Going outside will help increase vitamin D levels with exposure to UV light, and the outdoors can improve mood and make people happier.Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)increases during colder winter months, and a little outdoor time can help manage it.
Benefits of Fresh Air
Going outside and getting some fresh air can have health benefits. Going outside will help increase vitamin D levels with exposure to UV light, and the outdoors can improve mood and make people happier.Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)increases during colder winter months, and a little outdoor time can help manage it.
A Word From VerywellAlthough we can’t prevent every cold or respiratory illness, we do have tools to prevent some of the most significant ones. Vaccinations are available for influenza, COVID, pneumococcal pneumonia, and RSV. Talk with your doctor to see which ones would be appropriate for you.—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Although we can’t prevent every cold or respiratory illness, we do have tools to prevent some of the most significant ones. Vaccinations are available for influenza, COVID, pneumococcal pneumonia, and RSV. Talk with your doctor to see which ones would be appropriate for you.—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Although we can’t prevent every cold or respiratory illness, we do have tools to prevent some of the most significant ones. Vaccinations are available for influenza, COVID, pneumococcal pneumonia, and RSV. Talk with your doctor to see which ones would be appropriate for you.
—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roussel M, Pontier D, Cohen JM, et al.Quantifying the role of weather on seasonal influenza.BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):441. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3114-xKistler CE, Jump RLP, Sloane PD, Zimmerman S.The winter respiratory viral season during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(12):1741-1745. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jamda.2020.10.030Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.Harvard Health Publishing.How to boost your immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.A prescription for better health: Go alfresco.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roussel M, Pontier D, Cohen JM, et al.Quantifying the role of weather on seasonal influenza.BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):441. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3114-xKistler CE, Jump RLP, Sloane PD, Zimmerman S.The winter respiratory viral season during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(12):1741-1745. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jamda.2020.10.030Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.Harvard Health Publishing.How to boost your immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.A prescription for better health: Go alfresco.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Roussel M, Pontier D, Cohen JM, et al.Quantifying the role of weather on seasonal influenza.BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):441. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3114-xKistler CE, Jump RLP, Sloane PD, Zimmerman S.The winter respiratory viral season during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(12):1741-1745. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jamda.2020.10.030Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.Harvard Health Publishing.How to boost your immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.A prescription for better health: Go alfresco.
Roussel M, Pontier D, Cohen JM, et al.Quantifying the role of weather on seasonal influenza.BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):441. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3114-x
Kistler CE, Jump RLP, Sloane PD, Zimmerman S.The winter respiratory viral season during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2020;21(12):1741-1745. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jamda.2020.10.030
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.
Harvard Health Publishing.How to boost your immune system.
Harvard Health Publishing.A prescription for better health: Go alfresco.
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