Short answer: Yes.
While the cold does not directly cause illness, it does increase risk factors for it. It turns out that the classical parental advice to put on a coat before going out has scientific merit — even though it's the viruses that cause the illness, and not the cold weather. Let’s go through each risk factor one by one and examine their effects on illness.
The most common cause of the common cold is the rhinovirus. In cold weather, the air is very dry, allowing viruses to spread more easily. This is because less water molecules are present in the air, which normally hinder their movement through the air after a cough or sneeze in airborne transmission. Additionally, the increased humidity during warmer months results in droplets from a cough or sneeze to be larger, thereby falling to the ground faster. Heating during the winter also causes more dry air, which dries out nasal passages and therefore reduces their efficiency at defending against viruses.
People are more likely to stay indoors when the air is cold and dry. Without adequate ventilation, the risk of viruses spreading increases. In addition, staying indoors lowers absorption of sunlight and therefore vitamin D (this is also applicable to the lowered sunlight in winter in general), which is associated with Influenza A, a weaker immune system, and other health issues.
Speaking of the immune system, lower temperatures also weaken the immune system in general since the immune system has to spend more energy to heat the body and maintain normal body temperatures during winter. Cilia, which normally sweep foreign objects out, don't work as well in the cold. Breathing cold, dry air also causes the upper respiratory tract to constrict (to conserve heat), which may impede white blood from traveling to the mucous membrane, thereby worsening the fight against viruses.
10 tips to reduce sickness during the winter
Make sure you get enough nutrition (vitamins and minerals) from fruit or vegetables
Get adequate sleep
Make washing hands a regular habit
Always cough or sneeze into a tissue
Don’t share food or drink with ill people
Stay hydrated
Dress warmly
Wear a mask (to protect against droplets from coughs or sneezes) even if you don’t feel sick
Avoid touching your face
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date
Works Cited
Armas, Genaro C. "Can the cold really make you sick?" American Heart Association, 17 Dec. 2021, www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick.
"Can Winter Make You Sick?" HealthBeat, Northwestern Medicine, Sept. 2022, www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick.
Eske, Jamie. "Rhinoviruses and the common cold." MedicalNewsToday, Healthline Media UK, 19 Jan. 2024, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323431.
Stiepan, DeeDee. "Mayo Clinic Minute: Why do people get sick with viruses in the winter?" MayoClinic, 26 Dec. 2023, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-why-do-people-get-sick-with-viruses-in-the-winter/.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board