Comments on: Science is Sexy: Why Do We Get Sick More in the Wintertime?

By: Gregctvtnj

Gregctvtnj — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:46:55 +0000

Getting less Vitamin D from the sun (your source of 90% of your daily need), in the winter likely plays a major role in both susceptibility to infection and also ability to recover. In addition to the physical environmental differences such as poor dilution of and repeat contact with airborne pathogens. Plenty of people are inside at work all day in all seasons, but I think because they aren't as inclined to go out and get some sun later in the day in the winter after work (where pathogen exposure is at a minimum, unless you have school age kids of course) they get less of this nutrient. Even if they did, the quality of the light is not as complete, (as insanity claus put it so well) so that would also do it. We are growing in our understanding as scientists and hopefully the general public as to precisely how a good diet and outdoor activity contribute to health in more than just the ways "mom used to say." In a lot of the cases, what people suspect about healthy things is true, sometimes its not. Be critical of the literature, but also be open minded (not directed at anyone, just a little advice when you search for health information).

By: Insanity Claus

Insanity Claus — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:49:00 +0000

Winter makes all of nature sick. Trees go dormant, bears become unresponsive, birds fly away from it. We know why these things happen. it is caused by the spectrum of light reaching the earth. In the winter, light has to pass through more atmosphere to reach the ground. The atmosphere has minute droplets of water in it which refract the light like a prism. Red light has a longer wavelength, so it continues in the original direction of the white light. Blue light has a short wavelength, so it is scattered everywhere. This is why the sky is blue, and sunsets are red. Less Blue light causes trees to go dormant. Birds migrate to where there is more blue light. In extreme cases, people suffer Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder. Blue Light is a therapy used to alleviate symptoms of S.A.D.. S.A.D. is characterized as having jet lag for 4 months.

By: The Acrophile

The Acrophile — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:46:00 +0000

You have earned extra respect points from me for being willing to redirect and say "I haen't a clue!" Just remember that *after* they start calling you "Doctor" Jimmy. :) :applauds:

By: Alec

Alec — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:14:00 +0000

The indoors hypothesis, while very interesting, doesn't apply if you consider geographical differences. For instance, temperature in the caribbean only drops to 15C (59F) so the tendency to stay indoors is not as pronounced (Actually, it makes people get out more since it's not as hot as usual) as it is further away from the tropics. However, "folk wisdom" in the caribbean still holds that people catch cold more easily during the "cold season". Folk wisdom in Dominican Republic also states that you're more likely to catch cold if you stay wet after being rained on.

I've heard that what makes a person prone to "catch cold" is being exposed to swift changes in temperature but have no idea how that particular fact could elevate the probability of getting sick.

On the other hand, it would be interesting to study if dryer-colder air makes a person more prone to sneeze (the nasal membrane can be irritated due to being dryer than usual) and therefore, more prone to spread diseases.

By: Alec

Alec — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:14:00 +0000

The indoors hypothesis, while very interesting, doesn’t apply if you consider geographical differences. For instance, temperature in the caribbean only drops to 15C (59F) so the tendency to stay indoors is not as pronounced (Actually, it makes people get out more since it’s not as hot as usual) as it is further away from the tropics. However, “folk wisdom” in the caribbean still holds that people catch cold more easily during the “cold season”. Folk wisdom in Dominican Republic also states that you’re more likely to catch cold if you stay wet after being rained on.
I’ve heard that what makes a person prone to “catch cold” is being exposed to swift changes in temperature but have no idea how that particular fact could elevate the probability of getting sick.
On the other hand, it would be interesting to study if dryer-colder air makes a person more prone to sneeze (the nasal membrane can be irritated due to being dryer than usual) and therefore, more prone to spread diseases.

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:11:00 +0000

The fact that we become ill more often in the winter has very little to do with staying indoors or cold weather EXCEPT that those things affect our ability to absorb Vitamin D. "Flu Season" occurs just when our bodies have run out of the Vitamin D stored in the summer, and tapers off as the days grow longer and warmer. Find more information on Vitamin D and its effects on illness at the Vitamin D Council website: www.vitamindcouncil.org. Dr. John Cannell has worked for many years to spread awareness of the severe Vitamin D deficiency that is epidemic in our world today. You probably are deficient in Vitamin D and don't even realize it (and by the way, it's actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and extremely important for good health). Take Vitamin D and stay well!

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:09:00 +0000

Additionally, running a heater tends to dry up indoor humidity. A humidifier can help compensate.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Additionally, running a heater tends to dry up indoor humidity. A humidifier can help compensate.

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:11:48 +0000

By: Jimmy Rogers

Jimmy Rogers — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:06:00 +0000

Hey everybody, thanks for all the great comments.

First off I'd like to mention that yes, many of you have correctly pointed out that this question (like so many in science) has a relatively complex answer. There are many factors at work in any disease, including passing the pathogen, invasion of the host, growth of the pathogen, and the notice of symptoms. Many of these ARE affected by temperature.

I will say, in my own defense, that I was really hoping to dispel the myth that because "we" get colder our bodies somehow get sick. Homeostasis is the name of the game there. Now as someone pointed out, the nasal cavity becomes cooler and more susceptible to invasion in the winter, but no amount of bundling up will really help that problem (going back to the "bundle up or you'll catch a cold" theory).

Anyway, I'm glad so many people took an interest in this complex problem.

By: mikes

mikes — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:48:00 +0000

It's definitely a lot more complicated than just because we stay indoors. Most of us work during the summer and stay in doors quite a lot then too. Another possibility is that the lack of sunlight, Less sun in winter, AND more indoors. means the human body isn't getting the vitamins that the sun helps create, thereby weakening the immune system.

By: Jimmy Rogers

Jimmy Rogers — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:06:00 +0000

Hey everybody, thanks for all the great comments.

First off I’d like to mention that yes, many of you have correctly pointed out that this question (like so many in science) has a relatively complex answer. There are many factors at work in any disease, including passing the pathogen, invasion of the host, growth of the pathogen, and the notice of symptoms. Many of these ARE affected by temperature.

I will say, in my own defense, that I was really hoping to dispel the myth that because “we” get colder our bodies somehow get sick. Homeostasis is the name of the game there. Now as someone pointed out, the nasal cavity becomes cooler and more susceptible to invasion in the winter, but no amount of bundling up will really help that problem (going back to the “bundle up or you’ll catch a cold” theory).

Anyway, I’m glad so many people took an interest in this complex problem.