Amid the colder weather, there are plenty of winter bugs doing the rounds.
It seems like every other person is suddenly sniffling or sneezing, and while we all know colds and flu are more prevalent during the winter months, many of us have probably never stopped to think about why this is the case.
Germs are present all year-round, as anyone whose ever had a summer cold will know all too well. But researchers have now discovered why we tend to fall unwell more in the colder months.
READ MORE: Strep A, covid and cold symptoms and how to tell the difference
CNN reports that the cold air outside damages the immune response occurring in the nose. Dr . Zara Patel, a professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, said: "This is the first time that we have a biologic, molecular explanation regarding one factor of our innate immune response that appears to be limited by colder temperatures."
Essentially, if you're out in cold weather, you lose a significant amount of your immunity just by the drop it being that bit colder. Reducing the temperature inside the nose by as little as 5C kills almost half of the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils, according to a study published Tuesday in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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