Why do we get sick when exposed to extreme cold?

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When I was a kid and i learnt about diseases in school it was that micorganisms of various kinds cause them. However since growing up I’d always been told by my parents to cover myself properly when being exposed to the cold e.g. wearing warm clothes after getting out of a hot shower in winter even though you might not immediately feel cold.

I asked my science teacher and he told me that when exposed to temperatures outside of what our body is normally used to, our body becomes more susceptible to being ill because our immune system is compromised. I think about this every now and then if I’m ever cold or sick because I didnt feel fully satisfied with his answer. I’ve also read in some places on the internet that this is just an old wives tale. Would someone give me a definitive answer to this query? ( I am currently on sick leave after being in a cold place for a while and I was thinking about this again)

In: Biology

11 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

I always thought of it like thermodynamics. Energy can’t just be created right? When you’re in a cold environment, your body has to burn more energy to maintain appropriate heat levels, this means power is reduced in other areas of the body, making them weaker. I just honestly assumed that there was some sort of correlation and/or causation with your immune system when it comes to this.

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