How to catch a cold

[Scarlett]

My friend is always moaning that since the room she works in is cold, she has to put on lots of layers, or she will catch a cold.
I think that you can only catch a cold from breathing in someone else's germs, and that it is nothing to do with being cold or wet etc.
What do you think?

[Lesley1601]

Hi again, I think you're right, I remember reading something when I was a kid about myths and truths and there was an some experiment done where a bucket of cold water was chucked over someone outside and it proved it makes no difference whether you get a cold or not!!

[Dollie]

yes I think you're right too - I think you catch a cold by airborne germs e.g. if someone sneezes or coughs near you. It matters not whether you are out in the cold or get rained on etc.

[unruliejulie]

I agree, a cold is caused by a virus, nothing whatsoever to do with the cold, its mainly spread through sneezing.My Mum still tells me to wrap up warm in the winter an im nearly 40!!!!

[joko]

yes you are correct.

[chazza]

The cold is a virus which you can only catch from other people or in the air. However, spending long periods in the cold or wet might lower your defences and make you more likely to catch any colds going about

[Champagne]

She could, however, catch a chill.

[kaylamay]

Constantly being cold may compromise your immune system making you more susceptible to a cold?

[kaylamay]

also, i forgot to add, most of our body heat is released through the top of our heads so wearing a woolly hat during cold months might be a help to staying warmer. It seems to me if your body has to deal with extreme heat or cold then it has to take energy from other areas of the body to deal with it causing those other areas to suffer, hence a weakened immune system in some cases.