As North Texas prepares for a weekend winter blast, many parents may be tempted to repeat the same warning they grew up with: Bundle up, or you’ll get sick.
But cold weather itself does not cause illness, according to Dr. Jonathan Lee, a board-certified Dallas pediatrician. Viruses are what make people sick, though colder conditions can make them easier to spread and infect people.
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“Cold weather does not cause illness,” Lee said. But it creates conditions that allow viruses to spread more easily, and it can weaken some of the body’s natural defenses.
“That’s why people associate winter with getting sick,” Lee said. “It’s not the temperature — it’s the viruses and how our immune system responds to the environment.”
Low temperatures and low humidity can weaken the body’s first line of defense, known as the innate immune system, Lee said.
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But the human body includes protective mechanisms in the nose and airways that help block viruses before they enter the body, according to Lee.
Studies show cold air can reduce mucociliary clearance — the process that removes particles and pathogens from the respiratory tract — and lower immune cell activity in the nasal passages, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“That barrier becomes less effective in cold and dry air,” Lee said. “So viruses have an easier time getting in.”
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Is it worse for kids or adults?
The effect is similar for both children and adults, Lee said. The difference depends more on the strength of a person’s immune system than on age.
Children, older adults and people with chronic conditions may be more vulnerable because their immune defenses are still developing, declining or already compromised.
Storm safety: Health tips for cold weather
Ahead of the winter storm, Lee said general safety measures are more important than medical interventions.
He warned against using ovens, grills or gas burners as indoor heat sources during power outages, citing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Those methods can be extremely dangerous,” Lee said. “Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and people may not realize they are being exposed.”
Although cold weather does not cause illness, Lee said it can create conditions that allow viruses to spread more easily and weaken some of the body’s natural defenses.
“That’s why people associate winter with getting sick,” Lee said. “It’s not the temperature — it’s the viruses and how our immune system responds to the environment.”
Lee and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people limit their outdoor activities and try to remain warm during extreme cold, as hypothermia can become a serious risk during extended exposure to cold weather.
“People should only go outside if necessary and limit the amount of time spent outdoors,” Lee said. “ When going out, dressing in layers is advised to help retain body heat and reduce the risk of hypothermia.”