Do we Catch cold, if we aren’t Dry?
I’m sure you’d have come across this warning: “you will catch the vicious cold, if you don’t dry up soon!”; my dad would rebuke me this, every single time when I step out from the shower. Since generations, the idea of catching cold when exposed to lesser temperature, especially when wet, has been prevailing worldwide. These days we may describe our multiple symptoms of sore throat, running nose and cough, together as “Chills” or “Cold” . But, many medical professionals claim, one catches common cold due to “Virus”. So when I’m in a hurry and leave without drying my hair, should I worry about my dad’s admonitions?
Let’s jump into the topic, immediately!!!
Living in India, we’re exposed to number of seasons at number of regions. Many researches found cool regions like Bangalore, Delhi and Coonoor witness a rise in the common cold cases during winters, whilst the cases peak during monsoons and rainy days in warmer regions such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Hampi. Though we could conclude catching cold is due to “Seasonal Triggers”, there is another interpretation for this rapid rise. While it is frosty or raining outside, we tend to spend more time indoors with close proximity to other individuals and their germs, thus we are more prone of contracting the cold.
A study conducted in UK, had half of its volunteers have their feet submerged in cold water for 20 minutes; while the other half with their shoes and socks on, having their feet placed in an empty tub for the same time. Initially there wasn’t any cold symptoms reported by either volunteer groups, but after four to five days two-third of the “cold-water” volunteers reported of cold.
Through this study another theory was speculated, that when our feet, or as this matter wet hair, is exposed to cold temperatures. The blood vessels in our nose and throat constricts, thus letting lesser amount of disease-fighting “White blood cells” to flow there. The quantity of white blood cells in our nose and throat are insufficient to fight the cold causing viruses for a short period of time. Once when we get indoor, or when wetness dries off, our body warms up and the blood vessels again dilates — letting the normal flow of the White blood cells. But, by then the virus would have replicated as much to trigger the symptoms. Therefore, getting chilled or wet haired doesn’t give cold, but facilitates the virus in our nose and throat to get activated for causing cold.
Yet neither of these theories are confirmed as facts. But a Norwegian study had concluded that, women living in cold placed have higher chances of cystitis. And researchers have found that wetting the feet causes cystitis in a few women, stating the same mechanism occurring in the urinary system, as that of the nose and throat blood vessels.
So there is some truth to my dad’s warning of drying myself immediately after the showers. Though it may not give me cold, rather it may trigger the cold causing virus to activate. In the meantime, until many researches are made and they come to a conclusion, I think I shall stay dry to avoid catching cold.
See you in my next blog, until then…
stay Safe and Healthy.
Meet you soon
