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

the new information is

* colder temperatures do not make you ill
* colder temperatures constrict the blood vessels => not good to prevent getting ill
* colder temperatures are not good for pathogens => good for you not to get ill
* Points 2 and 3 therefore cancel each other out

=> colder temperatures have no real effect