It’s chilly in Charlotte, but we’re putting the freeze on these cold weather myths
Mom always said put your jacket on or you’ll get sick. Turns out mom doesn’t always know best, though.
As Charlotte feels the first grasp of mother nature’s winter fury this week with a forecast for rain and nighttime temperatures in the 30s ahead, we thought we would take a look at some of the top cold weather myths.
(1) Cold weather can make you sick
Running out the door with wet hair in the freezing cold may not feel very good, but it’s not going to be the reason you get sick.
It’s the viruses that you’re exposed to that make you sick,” said Dr. Genevieve Brauning, a family medicine physician at Novant Health SouthPark Family Physicians.
That being said, the cold weather might actually make it harder to fight off an impending sickness, however.
“For instance, when your nose is cold, it may be easier for some common cold viruses to replicate in your nasal area. So bundling up, staying warm and keeping your head and neck protected may help your body’s natural defenses against infection,” Brauning said.
(2) Wear your hat
I always hated wearing a hat when I was a kid. It always messed with my hair. (Yes, for those of you who know me, that’s not an issue now.)
If you find yourself yelling at your kids to put on a hat or a jacket, you’re not alone. Raleigh’s Holderness family is back at it with their video spoofs of popular songs. This week, the family released “Cold As Hell.”
Some old myths suggested you lose up to 40% of your body heat from your head. It’s believed military research in the 1950’s created this mind-numbing tale.
But scientists in 2008 proved that myth to be false, noting that human heat loss is highly dependent on what’s exposed at the time. Those scientists believe an uncovered noggin is responsible for body heat loss in the 7%-10% range.
Let’s be honest though, it’s better not to lose any heat in this cold. There’s an old saying, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment. Some Charlotte hot spots with winter gear to help keep you warm include Sun and Ski Sports in Ballantyne, Alpine Ski Center in Dilworth, Great Outdoor Provision Co. on Park Road and Ski Country Sports on South Boulevard.
(3) Drink up, warm up
There’s nothing quite like being frozen on a mountain top only to be rescued by a brandy-filled barrel-wearing St. Bernard. Ick! Yeah, the alcohol won’t help either.
This is a long-standing myth dating back hundreds of years. Just one alcoholic drink can make you feel as if you’re warmer, but it actually lowers your core body temperature and increases your risk of hypothermia,” Brauning said. “That’s because drinking alcohol reverses the normal process and reflexes that control our body temperature. You also don’t shiver as much when you’re drinking, which doesn’t help because shivering is one way that the body tries to create warmth.”
In case that doesn’t change your mind, the CDC reported 10% of deaths due to hypothermia involved alcohol consumption.
While Charlotte is lacking a local spot with a fireplace to enjoy a cup of hot coffee or hot cocoa, there are dozens of great shops to help warm your core. So put down the Woodford and pick up the hot cocoa at Smelly Cat or studied if warmth is your goal.
(4) Chicken soup may be good for the soul, but it may not be as good for the body.
Any time I hinted of a cough when I was a kid, mom started brewing up the chicken soup. While tasty, it’s not clear if the soup is a cold-killer.
Believe it or not, it’s been great soups and stews.
Those studies took a look to see if chicken soup does help reduce upper respiratory cold symptoms. The results were inconclusive to show which ingredients fight off colds. While the myth may not be exactly true, it also may not be false.
“Staying hydrated and eating nutritious foods always helps,” Brauning said. “Also, there’s evidence that hot liquids such as soups and teas could thin mucus and soothe a sore throat. So even if soup doesn’t cure you, it will probably help you feel a little less crummy.”
If you don’t want to take your chances, you can find Chris’ Deli all around Charlotte. Head out to Thai Tastefor a classic chicken noodle soup, or new gyms across Charlotte for something with a little more heat.
(5) Too sick to exercise might just be an excuse
A sniffle, scratchy throat, a little bit achy. No running today.
Turns out those might just be excuses, rather than a true reason not to exercise. Brauning said it is safe to exercise when you show mild symptoms but recommends listening to your body. Of course, there are always exceptions, especially if you have conditions such as asthma, heart disease or poor blood circulation.
If not, a good sweat could be good for your body, and the cold.
There are plenty of Charlotte Yoga that give you the opportunity to get in that workout while getting out of the cold. And if you’re not up to a strenuous class or a full run, maybe a hour of hot yoga at StretchLab or a session at StretchLab would soothe you.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
