Can You Actually Get Sick From Being Cold: Debunking Theories

We’ve all heard it before: You’d better wear a jacket, or you’ll catch a cold! But, in reality, can you get sick from cold weather? The short answer is no, you can’t get sick from cold weather exposure alone, and bundling up in frigid weather isn’t enough to completely protect you from the common cold.¹

Here, we’ll dive into the myth that you can get a cold just from being cold or out in the rain, providing actionable information to help you avoid getting sick.

What Is a Cold, and How Do You Catch a Cold?

A cold is a viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract (the nose, throat, sinuses, and windpipe). Colds are extremely common, hence the moniker “the common cold”. The average adult in the United States has two to three colds per year.²

You can catch a cold by coming into contact with someone who’s infected with a cold virus and still contagious. When the infected individual talks, sneezes, or coughs, they send tiny droplets into the air, which you may unknowingly inhale. You can also catch a cold by touching a surface with the virus on it, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.³

Can Cold Weather Make You Sick?

So, does cold air make you sick? The general consensus between experts and scientists is no, cold weather won’t give you the common cold, although it could increase your likelihood of catching a virus that you come into contact with. Cold temperature sickness comes down to your immune system’s susceptibility to viral infections—-not the cold weather itself.

What Do Experts Say?

Expert physicians and clinical researchers state that while cold weather alone doesn’t make you sick, it can notably suppress the immune system. More specifically, research shows that when temperatures drop, the immune function of the nasal vesicles (a type of structure in your cells) diminishes significantly. This means that if you do come into contact with a virus, it will replicate and penetrate your cells more effectively than at room temperature.⁴

So, while staying warm or wearing a coat doesn’t tend to top expert-backed lists of cold and flu prevention tips, it’s a good idea to wear the proper outerwear when temperatures drop.

What Does the Science Say?

The science behind the common cold doesn’t state that low temperatures alone can make you sick. However, it does say that even modest drops in temperature can notably affect your immune function.

A 2023 study shows that when the temperature of your nasal tissue drops by just 9℉, the number of vesicles available to respond to a foreign intruder, like a cold virus, drops by over 40%.⁵ So, as the experts say, bundling up when you venture out into cold weather (or simply staying indoors) can help your immune system effectively combat viruses it comes into contact with.

Can Rain Make You Sick?

We’ve established that being cold can compromise your ability to fend off sickness. But, can you get sick from being in the rain?

Similar to cold weather, rain alone won’t make you sick. However, it can make you more likely to come down sick if you encounter a virus. This is because being wet brings down your body temperature, creating the same immune-dampening effect that cold weather has on your body.⁶

People asking “does rain make you sick?” may also wonder if rain can carry viruses, bacteria, or pathogens. In general, water can carry viruses, and research shows that viruses can be swept up into the clouds and come back down to Earth via rain.⁷ However, these viruses aren’t the typical viruses that can get you sick. Instead, they affect microbes on the ground and in the ocean, never posing a real health concern for humans. Phew!

Why Do You Get Sick After Getting Wet in the Rain?

Why does rain make you sick if you’re faced with a virus, you ask? If you get wet in the rain, it will prompt that water to evaporate from your skin or clothing. You’ll lose body heat through evaporation, bringing down your body temperature.⁶ As we established in a previous section, when your body heat is lower, your immune system’s defenses are weakened, allowing viruses to more successfully take over.

Can You Get Sick from Being Wet?

So, can you get sick from being wet and cold? Or, can you get sick from taking a shower and going outside in the cold?

Here’s the answer: If you’re exposed to a virus while you’re wet and cold, your immune system will be less prepared to tackle it. As a result, the virus may effectively multiply and penetrate your body, causing you to experience symptoms.

Side Effects of Getting Wet in Rain

If you get wet in the rain, you may feel colder as the water evaporates from your skin and clothing. Additionally, if you’re exposed to a cold virus while you’re wet in the rain and become infected, you may start to experience cold symptoms within two to three days. Cold symptoms can include:⁸

Runny nose
Sore or scratchy throat
Sneezing
Nasal congestion
Headache
Postnasal drip

Does Cold Air Make You Sick?

If you’re wondering “can you get sick from cold air?”, the general answer is no: Like cold weather and rain, cold air alone won’t make you sick. However, cold air tends to be drier than warm air, making it easier for viruses to travel. COVID-19, for example, stays infectious in drier air for twice as long.⁹

Does Going Outside with a Cold Make It Worse?

Going outside with a cold won’t make it worse if the weather is mild. But, if it’s cold outside, the cold, dry air may exacerbate certain symptoms, like a sore throat, cough, and runny nose.¹⁰

Additionally, you should limit contact with others until your symptoms subside to prevent spreading the virus. Going outside may help with this if there are other people in your household. Just make sure to avoid overexerting yourself, as your body needs to rest when you have a cold.

How to Prevent Colds

As you ponder if being out in the cold makes you sick, let’s discuss real, actionable advice to help you ward off the common cold. To prevent colds, try to:¹¹

Wear the appropriate clothing in cold weather, including a winter jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves.
Wash your hands frequently (especially after touching communal surfaces) with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Limiting close contact with people who feel sick, especially at the beginning of their sickness (this is when they’re the most contagious).
Refrain from touching your face.
Keep up your overall health with a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep.

How to Treat Colds

If you do get sick with a cold, you can try various home remedies to ease your symptoms. Here are expert-backed cold treatments to try:¹²

Rest up and take time off of work or school.
Drink lots of fluids, including water, tea, juice, and broth, to prevent dehydration. Warm fluids help loosen congestion, making them particularly helpful in your cold recovery.
Try a saltwater gargle to calm a sore throat. Add ¼ to ½ of a teaspoon of table salt to a warm glass of water and gargle it at the back of your throat before spitting it out.
Consider taking over-the-counter cold medications to temporarily alleviate your symptoms. Examples include:

Maximum Strength Mucinex Fast-Max® Day Cold & Flu and Night Cold & Flu, a combo pack containing both day and night formulations to help reduce a wide range of cold symptoms, including fever, congestion, cough, body pain, sore throat, itchy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.
Mucinex Children’s Multi-Symptom Cold - Very Berry Flavor is formulated for children aged four to 12, with a liquid formula to help combat chest congestion, nasal congestion, and coughing.

Contact your doctor for professional guidance if your symptoms persist for longer than 10 days, or if you experience severe symptoms like:¹¹

A fever that reaches 104°F or lasts longer than three days
Shortness of breath or chest pain
A cough lasting from five to seven days

So, can you catch a cold from being sick? After reading this article, you can confidently debunk this myth while understanding how cold air and chilly temperatures can weaken your immune response.

Resources

Myths and Tips About Dressing for Winter. University of Rochester Medical Center. Published 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content
About Common Cold. CDC. Published May 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/about/index.html
Common cold - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published May 24, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605
Yang J, Hartman SC. The connection between cold weather and catching a cold. PBS NewsHour. Published January 14, 2023. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-connection-between-cold-weather-and-catching-a-cold
New study links nose temperature and immune response. UCLA Health. Published February 17, 2023. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/new-study-links-nose-temperature-and-immune-response
Cold Exposure: Ways the Body Loses Heat. myhealth.alberta.ca. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx
Reche I, D’Orta G, Mladenov N, Winget DM, Suttle CA. Deposition rates of viruses and bacteria above the atmospheric boundary layer. The ISME Journal. 2018;12(4):1154-1162. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-017-0042-4
Common Cold. Penn Medicine. Published 2022. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/common-cold
Tend to get sick when the air is dry? New research helps explain why. CU Boulder Today. Published February 23, 2023. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/02/23/tend-get-sick-when-air-dry-new-research-helps-explain-why
The Do’s and Don’ts of Easing Cold Symptoms. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-dos-and-donts-of-easing-cold-symptoms
Common cold. NHS. Published February 4, 2021. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/
Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t. Mayo Clinic. Published 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403