ask dr. read      Idaho Statesman columns      new articles      biography      formal resume      philosophy      services offered      contact dr. read      psychology links      other links      forms      pictures		Exposure to Cold Doesn't Cause a Cold by James M. Read, Ph.D. It's a well established part of our socialization process. Every child hears admonitions about going outdoors without a coat on, or sitting in a cold draft, or going barefoot when it's chilly out or what have you. Wet clothes, wet hair, cool night air. We've all heard the warnings. And despite the lack of evidence most people still believe that these things are likely to cause or give you a cold. They won't. It's amazing to me that people still believe that exposure to cold may give you a cold. There is no connection. The only link is psychological. Between what we were told as children and what we may still believe as adults. That's clearly very powerful. It's hard to shake well ingrained myths! I think I might have finally convinced my wife that exposure to cold doesn't actually cause the viral infection we call a "cold." She's a very bright woman, so it's not intellectual dullness that produces this intellectual stubborness. But I think she still hangs on to the notion that exposure to cold (or damp, or drafts, or chilling etc.) will increase one's susceptibility to cathing a cold. That isn't true either. Being the scientist that I am have done countless experiments on myself. I have gotten cold and wet skiing. I've run miles in sub zero temperatures (no, my lungs didn't freeze -- that's another myth). I've bicycled up and down mountains, through sleet and rain and shine and inadequate clothing. I've shivered at late fall BSU now-we-have-to-call-it-funball (?) games. And I've never ever come down with a rhinovirus infection as a result of this. I don't get very many colds. But I live a very "dangerous" lifestyle, according to those who still believe exposure to cold promotes colds. I often don't wear a jacket or coat or sweater outdoors in the winter. Of course my exprience doesn't prove a thing. I'm just kidding. But the serious research (and there has been lots done) does consistently show that exposure to cold and damp does not promote coming down with a cold. Research volunteers have been exposed to all manner of bone-chilling temperatures, icy baths and unpleasant "weather" conditions. They only get colds if they are exposed in just the right way to a rhinovirus to which they are not immune. You can be warm and toasty, rested and relaxed, taking your multivitamin with C and getting plenty of sleep (and thinking optimistic thoughts) and still get a cold if you are properly exposed to a rhinovirus to which you are not yet immune. This is another myth worth getting rid of. Countless future generations who won't have to be overdressed by zealous parents will thank us! James M. Read, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist  Originally published in The Idaho Stateman newspaper (Boise, Idaho) January 6, 1994 For more information, or to contact the author (that's me!), write to James M. Read, Ph.D., jread@jread.com