health
February 7, 2026
Does getting cold increase your chances of catching flu?
Traditional advice to keep warm in winter does have a limited basis in science but understanding disease transmission is much more beneficial
TL;DR
- Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not by exposure to cold.
- Viruses survive longer in colder, drier conditions.
- Spending more time indoors in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces increases virus transmission.
- Reduced winter sunlight can lower Vitamin D production and weaken the immune system.
- Public health messaging should focus on transmission methods like contact and respiratory droplets, rather than just advising to stay warm.
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