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You can actually get ill from not wrapping up in cold weather, reveals genetic scientist
We all owe our mothers an apology it seems as a genetic scientist confirmed that you can technically get ill from not wrapping up in cold weather.
Now that the clocks have gone back and the weather has taken a dip, flu season is gearing up to absolutely wreck our health. While you can beat a cold through tactics like taking supplements, having hot showers, and saline drops, there is no denying the effect it has on our lives.
You can get a cold from being cold – kinda
Many of us have no doubt heard the phrase youre going to catch a cold alongside criticism about your outfit. Despite this phrase usually coming from our mothers, many of us dismissed it as an old wives tale.
Cal (@dr.cal.ur.science.pal) is a genetic scientist and DNA editing expert who recently joined TikTok with a boatload of information. Her very first video accumulated 4.9 million views and nearly 500k likes.
Colds are caused by a virus, which means you cant get sick unless you actually catch the virus, she said. But your body’s natural defense against airborne viruses is this specialized layer of cells that lines your upper airway. These cells will create a sticky mucus that will catch and trap the pathogens you breathe in.
Those same cells produce cilia, which help to sweep the pathogens and mucus out of your airway where they can do less damage. Heres where your moms advice comes in.
In order for the cells to perform their job efficiently, they need to live in a warm and moist environment. While our bodies usually make the perfect home for them, constantly breathing cold air during the winter can dramatically affect their performance.
If a viral product were to enter your system when your defenses are down, its going to have a much easier time infecting you, Cal added.
We should really listen to our moms
So while being cold doesnt technically give you a cold, Cals scientific explanation does add weight to those long lectures your mom gave you as a kid. Dont be ashamed, its an experience shared by many.
Moms everywhere: AHA I TOLD YOU, one person said, as another wrote, Tell this to my mom. How many times she tried to convince my she caught a virus from our airconditioning.
Someone else wrote: So my Hispanic mom was right….now I need to know I’d walking barefoot on a cold floor causes menstrual cramps.
