NEGAUNEE -- It's cold outside no matter where you are in the Upper Peninsula. The trees are free of leaves, and a there's a thick covering of snow on the ground...it's a sure sign that the cold is here to stay. It's also a sign that your chance of catching a cold could rise. But Dr. Terry Hayrynen says it's not a direct correlation.
"Well, there's no association with the cold weather and the common cold," said Hayrynen.
Even though the weather doesn't directly cause you to get sick, your proximity to your coworkers, friends, and family does.
"It's just the close contact is what spreads the cold," Hayrynen said. "Of course when it's colder, we're inside more. So, that's how it's spread usually, from the particles that you spit out."
So if you're thinking that staying outside more during the winter is the answer to staying healthy, you might want to bundle up.
"You really need to cover up all of the extremities, especially the face, head, hands, and feet," said Meteorologist Todd Kluber. "And put several layers on."
With temperatures already below freezing, the blowing winds make it feel even worse.
"If the wind is blowing, it actually removes the heat from the body faster," Kluber said. "The stronger the winds, the colder it feels. And the quicker your body can lose heat means the quicker frostbite or hypothermia can set in."
As the name 'the common cold' implies, it's very common. People catch a cold often, especially between the chilly months of December and February.
But doctors don't suggest checking yourself into the hospital unless your symptoms change.
Practicing good hygiene and cleanliness will also help prevent getting sick. And even though there's no cure for the common cold, you can treat the symptoms using over-the-counter medications.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC