New study: Colder weather CAN cause you to catch a cold

Tuesday, January 6, 2015, 8:37 AM - For most people, cold weather causing you to catch cold is either a myth or gospel truth.

Now scientists at Yale may have helped settle it: They tested an adapted cold virus, more properly known as a rhinovirus, in lab mice, and found chilly conditions do, in fact, make it more likely the virus will bring you low.

"Cooler temperatures can enable replication of the common cold virus, at least in part, by diminishing antiviral immune responses," the researchers write.

Cold susceptibility really may all in your head. Or, rather, your nose.

The researchers say the cold virus tends to replicate better in the 33-35^oC temperatures of the nasal cavity, rather than at core body temperatures of 37^oC.

But the other factor at play is that the immune system responded less effectively, likely to be exacerbated when you're inhaling colder than normal winter air.

The paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.

Top image: Wikimedia Commons [Image License]

AND IT'S FLU SEASON TOO: Though unrelated, a brush with the flu isn't any fun. See how that virus spreads, below