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==Is it caused by cold weather?==

==Is it caused by cold weather?==

Cold weather has long been associated with the viral infection, and not entirely without reason. One cause of this apparent relationship is that people spend more time indoors during the cold winter weather.  Spending extended time in close proximity  to other people is a clear culprit. For this same reason, children in daycare or kindergarten are particularly prone to having colds.<ref>http://www.medicinenet.com/common_cold/article.htm#4doesit</ref><ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/health/upwave-colds/index.html</ref> However, at least one study has found that cold weather does actually encourage the illness.  Colder temperatures enable the virus to reproduce more quickly, and the host's immune response is slowed at the same time.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/01/06/cold-weather-can-actually-cause-colds-study-finds.html</ref> <br />

Cold weather has long been associated with the viral infection, and not entirely without reason. One cause of this apparent relationship is that people spend more time indoors during the cold winter weather.  Spending extended time in close proximity  to other people is a clear culprit. For this same reason, children in daycare or kindergarten are particularly prone to having colds.<ref>http://www.medicinenet.com/common_cold/article.htm#4doesit</ref><ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/health/upwave-colds/index.html</ref> However, at least one study has found that cold weather does actually encourage the illness.  Colder temperatures enable the virus to reproduce more quickly, and the host's immune response is slowed at the same time.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/01/06/cold-weather-can-actually-cause-colds-study-finds.html</ref> <br />

Another consideration is that cold weather is the result of the earth angling away from the sun.  This reduces both the intensity and duration of exposure to the sun, which effects not only the weather, but the human body itself. When exposed to sunlight for a sufficient amount of time at a sufficient intensity, human skin begins converting [[cholesterol]] into [[Vitamin D]].  Therefore, during the summer, people in temperate zones tend to have higher Vitamin D levels. In the winter, however, sunbathing and other sunlight activities come to a halt, and outdoor activities are performed under heavy clothing.  This combined with the already weakened rays prevents most of the skin's Vitamin D production.  As Vitamin D levels drop during the autumn and winter, the immune system is weakened, and becomes less capable to fight off viral infection (as well probably at greater risk of other ailments<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/health/Dr-Blaylock/vitamin-D3-deficiency-cardiovascular-health/2013/09/05/id/523964</ref>).<ref>http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/10/17/sun-exposure-vs-vitamin-d-supplements.aspx</ref> uc<ref>http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090223/low-vitamin-d-levels-linked-to-colds#1</ref> While people with a fairly strong immune system can still catch a cold, they are less likely to.

Another consideration is that cold weather is the result of the earth angling away from the sun.  This reduces both the intensity and duration of exposure to the sun, which effects not only the weather, but the human body itself. When exposed to sunlight for a sufficient amount of time at a sufficient intensity, human skin begins converting [[cholesterol]] into [[Vitamin D]].  Therefore, during the summer, people in temperate zones tend to have higher Vitamin D levels. In the winter, however, sunbathing and other sunlight activities come to a halt, and outdoor activities are performed under heavy clothing.  This combined with the already weakened rays prevents most of the skin's Vitamin D production.  As Vitamin D levels drop during the autumn and winter, the immune system is weakened, and becomes less capable to fight off viral infection (as well probably at greater risk of other ailments<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/health/Dr-Blaylock/vitamin-D3-deficiency-cardiovascular-health/2013/09/05/id/523964</ref>).<ref>http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/10/17/sun-exposure-vs-vitamin-d-supplements.aspx</ref> uc<ref>http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090223/low-vitamin-d-levels-linked-to-colds#1</ref> While people with a fairly strong immune system can still catch a cold, they are less likely to.