Colds and flu are irritating viruses that impact a person’s health. Colds can cause a person to lose time at work and to be inactive for a few days. The flu is a bit more serious condition, but it is not usually life-threatening unless there are major complications. People can catch a cold and the flu. However, there are some wrong assumptions that people have about both ailments. The information presented here will clear up some common cold and flu myths that generally confuse and mislead people.
Myth 1: The Cold Weather Causes Colds and Flu
According to Harvard Health, cold weather can weaken a person’s immune system. However, this does not mean that chilly weather is responsible for causing colds. Colds are caused by viruses. The reason why more people catch colds and deal with the flu when it is cold has to do with being indoors. When people are indoors, they pass viruses and germs to one another with fewer hindrances. Viruses are responsible for colds and flu and not the weather itself. By the way, have you ever noticed how a few people get colds during the summer or when it’s warm outside? This also helps to prove that colds and the flu are spread by viruses.
Myth 2: The Flu isn’t That Serious
The flu can be a serious condition. That truthful fact was stated at the beginning of the article. While most people don’t die from the flu a small number of flu patients do. The problem with the flu has to do with the immune system. A person’s immune system can be strong enough to stop the flu, but it can become too strong to the point where it kills off healthy tissue. Also, a person’s immune system can be too weak, causing the flu to shut their body down. This is one of many fly myths that should encourage people to get vaccinated every year.
Myth 3: Don’t Go Outside in the Cold with Wet Hair
This is one of those famous cold myths that moms (and dads) like to use to scare their kids. The myth is not grounded in truth. Many people wrongly assume that if a person goes outside with wet hair it will make them sick. Once again, the cold weather will impact a person’s immune system but that will not necessarily cause them to get sick. Contracting a virus will do that.
Myth 4: The Flu Vaccine Will Give you the Flu
The flu shot will not give you the flu. The flu shot is made up of an inactivated virus. Since this the case, there is no way it can make someone ill. A person can get a flu shot and still get sick. The reason why this happens is because it takes about 2 weeks for the flu shot to start to properly work. If a person gets sick within the 2 weeks before the shot properly works, they will naturally assume that the flu shot is responsible.
