Getting cold may lead to catching a cold

AORN Journal, Jan, 2006

There may be a scientific link between becoming chilled and developing viral infections, according to a Nov 14, 2005, news release from Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre, Cardiff, Wales. Researchers recruited 180 study participants between October and March, during the peak common cold season. Half of the participants kept their bare feet in icy water for 20 minutes and the other half put their feet in an empty bowl. Of the participants whose feet were chilled, 29% developed a cold within five days, compared to only 9% of participants in the control group not exposed to a chill.

Researchers theorize that when colds are circulating in the community, many people are mildly infected but show no symptoms. When they become chilled, the blood vessels in the nose become constricted, interfering with the warm blood flow that supplies the white blood cells that fight infection. The reduced defenses in the nose allow the virus to become stronger and the dormant infection to take hold.

Mothers "Were Right" Over Colds (news release, Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre, Nov 14, 2005) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/4433496.stm (accessed 5 Dec 2005).