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We all know, that we need to keep warm during winter, but one bodypart seems to be more important than others when trying to avoid the flu or cold.
Winter has come (surprise …), the Holidays are over, and now it’s time to get beck into the good old treadmill.
But if there’s one thing, that can really throw a spanner in the works when getting through the cold and dark January, it’s a round of flu or the simple cold.
We all know that it is important to keep warm during the cold months, both for health and comfort reasons, but is there a bodypart that is more crucial than others to keep warm, if we want to avoid a week in bed?
The answer is yes!
Why winter matters
Speaking to Danish TV2 in 2023, chief physician and professor at Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Bente Klarlund Pedersen, explains that viruses tend to thrive in colder conditions,
“Viruses really like the cold, because they simply multiply more when it is cold, so for that reason alone there is more virus around in winter,” she adds.
Viruses usually enter the body through the mouth or nose and that is why the temperature inside the nose is especially important for how easily they can gain a foothold.
A vulnerable nose
When the nose is cold, viruses find it easier to reproduce and move deeper into the body. Research shows that common cold viruses multiply much faster at temperatures of 33–35 degrees Celsius, which is typical inside the nose, than at the body’s core temperature of 37 degrees.
Cold conditions in the nose also reduce blood flow. That can weaken the immune response, making it harder for the body to fight off infection.
“It is a bit funny that we are so focused on hats and scarves, when it is actually far more important to keep the nose warm if you want to prevent viruses from multiplying and entering the body,” Pedersen says.
Feet also play a role
Keeping the nose warm is not always easy. Pedersen notes that foot temperature can also influence the risk of getting sick.
A study from the Danish Common Cold Centre found that more people developed colds four to five days after immersing their feet in cold water, compared with a control group whose feet were placed in an empty bowl.
Hard to avoid
Even with warm noses and feet, avoiding viruses entirely in winter is difficult. Cold and damp weather pushes people indoors, where infections spread more easily.
That is why, according to Pedersen, it is important to also remember to wash your hands frequently as well as sanitizing.
Sources: Danish TV2
