Does a sudden drop in the weather expose you to more viral infections and disease?

Weather of Arabia - Winter is a season in which sore throat, cough, cold and runny nose abound, and a sudden drop in temperature can increase the risk of disease, so you may need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle to reduce your chances of getting sick due to the drop in temperature. the weather.

Causes of the spread of diseases with the decrease in air temperature

A drop in air temperature increases the risk of infection for several reasons, including:

1. The sudden drop in temperature reduces humidity levels

This makes viruses stronger, and viruses tend to survive longer and reproduce more effectively in cold temperatures, as cold temperatures provide protection for the protective layer of the flu virus, making it stronger and less penetrable, but in warm, humid weather, the virus loses that hard layer It becomes softer and therefore less likely to spread from person to person.

2. Cold weather can weaken the immune response

Where extreme cold leads to constriction of blood vessels, which makes it difficult for white blood cells to reach the mucous membrane, where they begin to attack viruses there, and drier air weakens the body's immune reaction to the arrival of the virus.

In addition, our bodies get less vitamin D in the winter due to less sunlight and more time spent indoors, as vitamin D usually helps keep our immune system working.

3. In cold weather, people tend to stay indoors

It is known that colds and influenza viruses spread through the air and personal contact, and therefore the gathering of people more indoors leads to the spread of viruses more, as coughing can spread germs up to a distance of about 2 meters, and most germs can live on surfaces for a period of time.

Rhinoviruses and other cold viruses can survive for up to 7 days on interior surfaces, worktops or doorknobs. Influenza viruses can generally survive for about 24 hours. All viruses reproduce better on hard surfaces - metal or plastic - than on soft fabrics.

Therefore, it is recommended to focus on preventing colds and influenza in the first place,

Ways to prevent colds and flu

There are some simple measures to prevent colds and flu, and reduce your chances of infection due to a sudden drop in temperature:

1. Pay attention to body warmth and wear appropriate clothes for cold weather

Avoid taking off warm clothes as soon as you feel a little warm, to avoid exposing the body to a sudden drop in temperature, and avoid going out in times of severe cold, such as early morning and late evening.

2. Drink more warm fluids and increase the intake of foods that enhance the body's immunity

Like foods rich in vitamin C, citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, ginger, garlic, green leafy vegetables, yoghurt, nuts, seeds and fatty fish, a stronger immunity is key to preventing illness with a sudden drop in temperature.

3. Humidifiers can be used at home to add more moisture to the air, and cover the nose and mouth when going outside to reduce exposure to dry and cold air, as viruses multiply in dry air.

4. Follow hygienic practices, and wash hands regularly

This can prevent the transmission of viruses from one person to another and stop the spread of infection. And always keep a tissue to use when coughing and sneezing, as this reduces the possibility of spreading the virus through the air.

I wish you good health