Many of us were cautioned as children about the risk of “catching our death of cold” if we ventured out in chilly weather without adequate clothing. However, is it really possible to fall ill due to exposure to cold temperatures?
Dr Amir Khan has addressed this theory, offering his medical expertise on TikTok. On the social media platform, he joked that even now his mother still calls his GP surgery to check if he’s wearing a jumper to work.
He started a video by asking: “She says if I go outside in cold weather I will catch a cold – but is she right?” His answer was both yes and no. He explained that colds are caused by a virus, which you can only contract if exposed to it.
However, he cautioned that cold weather can weaken our bodies’ “defence mechanism”, making them less effective at “catching and killing” the cold virus before it can infect.
Dr Khan, who also offers medical advice on ITV shows such as Lorraine and This Morning, added: “Normally when a cold virus enters our nose, it activates our nasal cells to release billions of tiny sacks called vesicles that are filled with mucus. These surround and attack the virus before it can cause a major infection.”
The system functions optimally in “warm and moist” weather conditions, according to the doctor. However, cold air poses a problem as it is not only cold but also dry, which negatively impacts the crucial first line of defence.
Dr Khan added that scientists have discovered that cold air can decrease the production of vital mucus vesicles by over 40% and also compromise their quality. This weakened immune response can make it easier for the virus to take hold.
Many TikTok users shared their personal experiences in the comments section. One user stated: “I was told by doctor the cold air triggered, my asthma, couple days later I was medicated by another doctor, steroids, antibiotics, cold air can cause problems.”
In contrast, another user shared: “I love the cold as it is actually better for me as I have COPD, I cannot breathe in our horrid summers!”
And a third person commented: “Actually, our mums are right! I have vasomotor rhinitis, which went undiagnosed for years and I bet there is a lot of people out there who have it as well. Cold air makes me really ill!”