According to the newsletter Consumer Reports on Health, studies have been done that reveal some interesting facts about the common cold.

1.      The theory that cold weather causes the common cold has been disproved many times, yet many people have the notion that being chilly or damp causes a cold.  Not only do these things not cause a cold, they don’t seem to make a cold worse or last longer.

So why does the common cold become more common when the weather cools?

2.      One theory is because people move indoors and make it easier for cold viruses to spread from person to person.  The viruses spread two ways: through contaminated hands and through the air from coughing and sneezing.  It may be best to wash ones hands frequently and keep a distance from sick people.

3.      However, according to one study, having more social contact may actually reduce the risk of catching a cold, perhaps by strenghting the immunity.

4.      Other research has suggested that stress weakens immunity, increasing the likelihood that infection with a cold virus will blossom into a full-blown cold.