Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D.
Each fall and winter, many of us battle upper respiratory infections (URI’s) including the common cold. In the United States, the incidence of URI’s begins to increase in early September. The number of cases slowly increases for several weeks and remains elevated until March or April, when it declines.
Although most of us realize that the number of URI’s increases during the fall and winter, many have an incorrect perception regarding why this occurs. I can recall the countless times that my grandmother chastised me because I didn’t have on a hat or scarf when it was less than 50 degrees outside. I’ve recently been the recipient of long stares from Mothers at church who appear appalled that my little ones are not in snow suits during cold weather. (Several of them have not only stared but have voiced their opinions!)
Research however has not found that colder temperature increases the risk of URI’s. Although the seasonal variation is not directly due to temperature, other contributors to the increase may be indirectly related to colder weather. When the weather is colder, people tend to spend more time indoors which increases the chance that viruses will spread from person to person.
Additionally, common viruses that cause URI’s survive better when humidity is low which is generally during the colder months of the year. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air and when humidity levels are high, you feel hotter. A relative humidity level between 30-60% is thought to be optimal for health. Relative humidity levels below 30% can lead to dry nasal passages, dry skin and increased thirst. Dry nasal passages may be more vulnerable to viral infections.
Because most causes of URI are viruses, treatment options are limited so prevention is the key. Below are few tips to help prevent or limit URI’s.
1. Don’t use your hands to cover coughs and sneezes. Viruses are more likely to stay on your hands and be passed on to others. Use a tissue, turn your head away from others, or cover your mouth with your arm.
2. Wash your hands or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. This can’t be stressed enough because many viruses are spread by hand. Viruses can live for hours, days and in some cases weeks outside the human body. If an object is touched by a hand contaminated with a virus, someone can pick up the virus much later.
3. Don’t touch children’s faces. I will admit that this is a personal peeve. Viruses often enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is a common way children get infections.
4. Get some fresh air. Viruses easily circulate in crowded rooms and central heating often dries the indoor air. So bundle up and get outside, even when it’s cold.
5. Don’t forget the usual strategies. Regularly exercise and eat fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system. Don’t smoke because it damages your immune system, dries nasal passages and damages the delicate hairs in your nose and lungs that help keep infections away.