This 1 Lifestyle Change Can Drastically Reduce Your Risk Of Catching A Cold

Science occasionally catches up to what our grandparents have been saying all along. Like when they warned you, “You’ll catch a cold out there!” when a chill is in the air. Technically , you can’t get sick from cold weather alone (the majority of colds are caused by viruses ). However, there is one way that brisk temperatures can contribute to you getting sick — and you may not even realize you’re doing it.

Breathing in cold, dry air outside (or even in your home) can make you more susceptible to catching a cold. And it’s all because of the way our noses are set up to protect us.

“The nasal apparatus is designed to be the first step in fighting off infection and filtering out irritants in the environment,” said Dr. Amy Brown,a board-certified pulmonologist, assistant professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College School of Medicine, and an adjunct associate professor of public health at the School of Health Sciences and Practice.

“The nose has its own internal humidification system that allows it to adapt to changes in the external environment easily,” Brown said. “This role is critically important because it marks the beginning the delivery of fresh, clean, humidified air to the deepest part of our lungs.”

When the air outside the nose is too dry, it causes the nose to work harder to humidify the air you breathe in, and it can’t always keep up. Brown explained that when nasal filtration and immune defenses aren’t functioning optimally due to dry air, viruses — like those that cause respiratory infections and fall colds — can get in more easily. Not good if you want to avoid getting sick!

How Your Nose’s Defense System Gets Thwarted By The Cold Weather

Rhinologist and sinus surgeon Dr. Peter Hwang, head of the