There is a prevalent idea that having a rain bath can give you a cold, particularly if you keep your clothing wet for an extended amount of time after your “bath.” However, this is really a fiction that has been handed down from generation to generation and likely originates from a misunderstanding of what actually occurs.
What do you think? Does exposure to rain trigger a cold? Is jogging in the rain detrimental? If you still have concerns about the link between rain, cold, flu, and colds, don’t worry; we’ll explain all of them and show you what’s factual and what’s a fiction.
What is the cold?
The common cold is a viral illness of the upper respiratory tract, which consists of the nose, mouth, and throat. As it does not reach the lungs, it is a disease with a low risk, mild symptoms, and a low complication rate in adults.
It may be caused by approximately 200 distinct kinds of viruses, the most prevalent of which being rhinovirus and parainfluenza. Headache, body soreness, runny nose, cough, aching or sore throat, and nasal congestion are common cold symptoms.
Many assume that the common cold is a milder type of influenza, however this is also a fallacy. The distinctions between influenza and the common cold are:
| The flu | Cold |
| Caused by the Influenza virus; | Caused by over 200 different viruses such as rhinovirus; |
| Causes sudden-onset high fever as the initial symptom; | It rarely causes fever, occurring only in children, the elderly and people with low immunity; |
| It affects the entire respiratory system, reaching the lungs; | It only affects the upper respiratory tract; |
| It can have serious and even fatal complications, such as pneumonia. | It causes only mild complications, such as otitis and pharyngitis. |
Does taking rain cause a cold?
No, rain does not CAUSE a cold, despite the fact that the material supplied so far has already answered this issue. Only these pathogens, disease-causing bacteria, may cause the disorder, since it is a viral infection.
This implies that rain, chilly temperatures, and eating ice cream in the winter are incapable of producing colds and flu, since only infection with the virus that causes the sickness may induce these respiratory diseases.
Where did the myth that taking the rain causes a cold come from?
Although it is impossible to be positive about the origins of this myth, we may make educated guesses based on a number of flu, cold, and weather-related characteristics that provide hints as to how this misconception originated. Do they:
Seasonality of colds and flu
It is thought that the cold is responsible for flu and colds owing to seasonal epidemics, a time characterised by a rise in the number of instances of these illnesses during the colder and drier autumn and winter months.
However, influenza and colds are still caused by viruses. The rise in instances is attributable to a climate that favours the survival of viruses, at the same time as we acquire the habit of spending more time in confined surroundings and with dense populations, which facilitates their transmission.
Sudden changes in body temperature can affect immunity
Regarding the concept that being rained on causes the flu and cold, the root may lay in the influence that a rapid shift in body temperature may have on the body, particularly in regard to our immune system and our capacity to fight off disease-causing invaders.
Especially when our body is heated and we take in the rain, generating a thermal shock, or when the rain shower is followed by a drop in ambient temperature, this cold may reduce the immune response and make the body susceptible to viral entrance.
How to prevent a cold with or without rain?
It is not feasible to declare that taking rain or jogging in the rain is harmful and promotes colds in general.
However, remaining in wet clothing and allowing this occurrence to induce a protracted decrease in body temperature might impair immunity and accelerate the spread of the virus causing the sickness.
During wet and cold seasons, the most effective way to reduce this danger is to choose your clothes with attention. Utilize many layers and pick a waterproof outer layer, such as a raincoat or a specialised coat.
If not waterproof, footwear should also be as closed as feasible. In addition, it is advisable to take a warm shower to warm up the body and then put on dry clothing to maintain proper body temperature.
The immune system must generally acclimatise to changes in temperature, which is why a thermal shock or abrupt shift has such a profound effect on the respiratory system’s capacity to fight off intruders.
In addition to the rain-related recommendations for preventing colds, it is also advised:
Use alcohol gel or soap and water to disinfect your hands after touching surfaces or items and before touching your face.
Avoid shared things: certain viruses may persist for short durations on surfaces, therefore avoid sharing personal goods, such as cups, cutlery, pens and the like, to limit the chance of transmission;
Flu and colds are mostly transmitted via the air, therefore it’s important to avoid confined spaces and large groups. Staying inside with other people raises the danger since there is no air exchange, the atmosphere gets drier, making the nasal mucosa more susceptible to intruders, and the likelihood of one person transmitting the virus to another becomes very high.
Improve the immune system’s capacity to fight off invaders and illnesses by engaging in physical activity, establishing a good sleep schedule, consuming an adequate amount of water, and ensuring enough vitamin intake through food or supplements.