"MOM WAS RIGHT" - colds

[bloom]

MOM WAS RIGHT Scientists have always scoffed at the notion that getting a chill can lead to a cold. Viruses cause colds, they say, not cold air. But a new study found that dormant infections can be activated when certain parts of the body, particularly the feet and the nose, get wet and cold. In the study, 90 volunteers spent 20 minutes with their feet in a bucket of cold water. Over the next five days, 29 percent came down with colds, compared with 9 percent of a control group. Researchers said that getting a chill might constrict blood vessels and reduce the circulation of white blood cells that fight infection.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/30/opinion/30falk.html?th&emc=th

[SmokingJacket]

1. Immediately upon the weather turning cold, our family starts

getting colds. It doesn't let up until spring. I *know* colds are caused by viruses... but this would help explain that phenomenon.

[trotsky]

2. Part of that comes from colder weather...

bringing more people together indoors with less fresh air, too.

[calico1]

7. Also, most of the school year

is cold weather when a lot of children are together for long periods of time. All the people I work with that have small children seem to manage to get at least one cold per year.

[SmokingJacket]

9. Yeah, that's what I used to think.

But really, we don't go out much less often, and only become really indoorsy in the very worst weather. But the colds descend like BANG! with the first cold days.

Another theory I had about this was that perhaps sunshine kills germs. :shrug:

I like to see scientific studies done for such practical questions!

[trotsky]

11. It's not necessarily just your family.

Every other family is spending more time together in enclosed spaces, dry air (dries out the membranes of the nose, can make it easier for viruses to get a foothold), etc. Unless you're totally shut in, you go out and touch shopping carts, door handles, and so on, and get the germs everybody else is incubating and sharing amongst themselves.

[SmokingJacket]

16. Yes, I know...

And I'm sure that's part of it. It's just that the colds seem to descend so suddenly, while the "incubation effect" would seem to take a little while to get rolling.

I like this cold/cold theory; hope it's tested some more.

[Maggie_May]

3. Put your socks on

Advice from a Mom that has to say that at least once a day.

[davidinalameda]

4. just sent that to my mom so she can email me back an "I told you so"

she's getting up there in age so I give her these little victories

:rofl:

[bloom]

5. I'm sure she appreciates it.

:)

[neweurope]

14. You're sweet

:hi:

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. Listen to the accumulated wisdom of women

Jeez, what a concept.

[Gloria]

8. Drier air (indoors from heating, too) can also be part of the problem...

since the nasal passages get dehydrated....I've read that that helps the viruses "take root"...

[Bluerthanblue]

10. Common sense- if your body is expending its energy keeping warm

it has less energy to spend fighting off invaders (viruses) and repairing itself.

I always scoffed at the notion that not dressing warmly enough would compromise your immune response- but since i became a mom, and watched my kids get sick when they went outside poorly dressed for the weather, or overtired, and got sick- i realized the wisdom, and reasoning behind some of the "crone advice". Our bodies are amazing, but logical too-

Like don't go swimming right after a big meal- (your digestive tract is calling dibs on your blood bodily energy)-

[LosinIt]

12. A single study does not a scientific finding make.

It's this type of article that feeds the old wives' tales for several more generations to come. When this has been peer reviewed and independently replicated, let's talk. Sorry, But I've been fighting this battle with my kids' teachers and other parents for way too long.

[Kokonoe]

13. In the summer you must expel moister to cool

In the winter you must absorb moister and fight off what comes with it to stay warm. Give me a million dollars please.

[neweurope]

15. How true. I've been having a very light head cold. 3 hours with the

horses, freezing temperatures and wet boots day before yesterday - now I'm having an outgrown flu, fever, shaking, every muscle hurting. Damn if I haven't learned my lesson this time!

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

17. I can get cold

but if I SHIVER I will invariably get sick. And that shivering can be from fear or cold.