Debunking common health myths surrounding cold weather
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- At some point, you've likely heard heard a winter or cold weather health myth. Common myths include not to shower or have wet hair before going outside or you could catch a cold, or that drinking hot liquids warms you up faster than cold liquids.
ABC-7 spoke to people around El Paso about what myths they heard growing up. One person said they don't believe in winter myths while others said they were told walking around without shoes causes cold.
Nurse Mary Kaough has 47 years of critical care nursing experience, and then has been in nursing education about 20 years. She says she's heard all the Myths.
MYTH: Does going outside without a coat make you sick?
Nurse Kaough: "No. That cannot make you sick. If you're outside long enough in freezing temperatures. That's not good for you health wise, obviously, because you can get hypothermic and you can, if you're outside long enough in a snowdrift. Yeah, you can actually freeze to death. We have cases of that every year, depending on the climate where you're at. But just to dart outside in the cold, is that going to hurt you no?, I darted outside last night in my nightgown, to turn my water faucet on so the pipes wouldn't freeze. And here I am, healthy as can be"
MYTH: Taking a shower before going outside makes you sick
Nurse Kaough: "No. And that's because illnesses are caused by microorganisms, by germs. So that itself is not going to make you sick."
MYTH: Antibiotics to cures colds
Nurse Kaough: "No, it does not cure a cold. Cold are caused from viruses. However, if you get a bacterial infection on top of that, for example, like a pharyngitis or a sinus infection, then that might require an antibiotic, but that's for a bacterial infection."
MYTH: Vitamin C prevents colds
Nurse Kaough: "No. Not necessarily. And of course, we all know someone in our family who is a vitamin fanatic, and they think the more vitamins you take, the better you are, the healthier you are. And of course, there's such a thing as too much of anything. And you can actually become more ill if you take too many substances that are beyond what your body needs. So, no, just eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best prevention."
MYTH: Drinking warm liquids warms you faster than cold liquids
Nurse Kaough: "No, that's a myth. And along with that myth is the myth of drinking alcohol to warm you up. And that's incorrect as well. It may make you feel better, but it doesn't necessarily warm you up."
MYTH: Going to bed with wet hair causes a cold
Nurse Kaough: "you don't get from having wet hair. You get ill from a microorganism, whether it's a virus or bacteria"
