Can changing temperatures make y'all ill?

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an communicable diseases physician and medical director of infection and prevention and control at The University of Kansas Wellness System, helps answer that question.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- A modify in temperature and barometric pressure level can touch on your torso in different means.

Yous can feel it in your joints. You tin experience information technology in your sinuses. Simply as far as weather changes go, doctors say it tin can't make you sick without an actual infection. So as we assemble this holiday season, here are some important things to consider.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an communicable diseases doctor and medical director of infection and prevention and command at The University of Kansas Health Organisation, said exposure to a bacterial infection or virus is needed to brand you sick.

"The safest places are outdoors, peculiarly if we're talking about infection and illness," Hawkinson said. "The ventilation actually just makes information technology very difficult to be exposed."

In the winter months, the cold, dry air, along with barometric pressure changes, tin stuff upward sinuses or make them too dry out, leading to a higher run a risk of illness if exposed to viruses.

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Gathering in high-risk situations

More than than lxxx% of acute infections or illnesses that doctors see, peculiarly during the wintertime, are caused by viruses.

"Only what we see as the temperatures go colder, we meet people going inside to assemble more than," Hawkinson said.

Historically, doctors say that is when they meet a recurrence of seasonal respiratory infections -- like influenza, mutual coughing and cold coronaviruses and rhinoviruses.

Doctors say it'southward more due to behavioral types where people are gathering more in high-risk situations, peradventure because of holidays or celebrations, and in poorly ventilated spaces.

"And so but past that nature, you lot are coming into contact. Yous are having a college run a risk of coming into contact and being exposed to those viruses," Hawkinson said.

In the winter months, the cold, dry air, along with barometric force per unit area changes, can stuff upwards sinuses or make them too dry out, leading to a higher risk of disease if exposed to viruses.

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However, some viruses circulate during the summer, although not as many people seem to become them. Just over again, doctors say it is more behavioral.

"You're still doing things more outdoors and in those very well-ventilated places, such every bit the puddle or the beach, where you don't really have a lot of concern for exposure to those viruses," Hawkinson said. "Compared to those colder winter months, when people are really meeting indoors and having a lot of contact, close with each other."

Systemic symptoms due to weather

When a storm is on the horizon and the atmospheric pressure changes, doctors say there are systemic symptoms where you might notice changes in your joints or bones.

"They tin can take hurting at that place. They tin can feel when storms are coming on," Hawkinson said.

For the respiratory system, barometric pressure and humidity can aid in helping to alter the way you're feeling.

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After the rain comes through, doctors say your acute symptoms will be curt-lived every bit opposed to an infection when those illnesses tin go on for a calendar week or two.

"And then certainly, if you practise have a viral infection, and you do get that cough or cold, that cough can sometimes linger for iii or four weeks," Hawkinson said.

Improving your allowed system

Doctors suggest the best things for improving your immune system are the commonalities that everybody should be doing already, like getting good balance, adequate diet, hydration and practise.

Other behavioral issues are understanding and taking into account the high-take a chance situations that you may exist attending.

"For instance, indoor spaces, indoor gatherings where at that place are more people, perhaps people who are in your chimera who you don't know where they have been," Hawkinson said.

And if you exercise get high-gamble situations, you should continue to be masked and distanced as much as possible, doctors recommend.

Mitt hygiene is besides vitally important, besides as routine vaccinations, like the flu vaccine.