Parkridge Health System - January 31, 2024
by Dr. Minerva Covarrubias

With fall and winter seasons, we enjoy the changing colors of foliage, holiday decorations, seasonal food and drinks, and cozy gatherings with friends and family. Although there is much to celebrate, this is the time of year that we observe an increase in respiratory viral illnesses with COVID, influenza and RSV being the most common among the long list of respiratory viruses. So why do we see a spike of respiratory viral illnesses during the cooler months? It has been traditionally thought people are spending more time indoors allowing for airborne viruses to spread more easily. However, there may also be a biological cause for seasonal variations in upper respiratory viral infections.

The first line of defense against respiratory illnesses is the nose. The nasal epithelium has a variety of innate antiviral mechanisms that kick in to high gear when exposed to a virus. Interestingly, a study published December 2022 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by Di Huang, PhD, et al, discovered that some of these antiviral mechanisms may be impaired by exposure to cold air. So there may be something to the old wives tale that going out in cold weather will make you sick!

So what can we do to protect ourselves? It begins with some basic hygiene and etiquette: cover your cough, don’t touch your face, wash your hands, and keep your distance. Pretty simple. For those individuals that are at higher risk of infections and severe illness (e.g. COPD/Asthma, Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Pregnancy), wearing a mask is also a very effective method to protect yourself. Lastly, be sure to stay up to date on vaccinations for the most common respiratory viral illnesses such as COVID, influenza, and RSV. Although none of the vaccines are 100 percent preventative at keeping you from getting sick, all of these vaccinations did show a significant reduction in severe illness, hospitalization, and death. If you have questions about whether or not you are eligible for vaccines or have any concerns, then speak to your primary care provider for guidance.

In the meantime, stay warm and stay safe!