The Answer to Whether You Can Get a Cold Leaving a Window Open

“Close the window, you’ll get a cold!” Many of us have heard these words uttered by our parents or grandparents during childhood. This is why many of us are sure that an open window can make you sick.

At 5-Minute Crafts, we decided to find out whether this was true or not.

❗ Important: This article is for information only and shouldn’t be considered a medical guideline.

What a cold is

To answer this question correctly, we need to understand what a cold is.

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, nose, and throat. Most colds are caused by the smallest living organisms, viruses. They are in the air we breathe or on things we touch. Viruses enter the body and cause a reaction in our immune system. After that, we feel unwell and weak.

Adults get colds about 2-3 times a year, and babies and toddlers get them a little more often. As a rule, we don’t need a doctor’s help when we have colds, and they usually disappear in a week or 10 days. But if symptoms don’t improve or they get worse, see your doctor.

If you can get a cold by leaving a window open

So now we know that colds are caused by viruses, but it would still be logical to ask, “What does an open window have to do with it?”

In fact, it’s impossible to catch a cold from sitting or sleeping by a draft. There is no evidence that cold weather or cold air causes colds. On the contrary, poorly ventilated and dry air in the room can reduce our resistance to viruses.

However, in reality, we can see that people get sick more often during the fall and winter months than in summer. This can be explained. In the colder seasons, we tend to stay indoors and open windows less often, so the air becomes drier, and this, as we know, increases our susceptibility to viruses. Most cold-causing viruses survive better in low-humidity environments, like during the fall and winter.

There is also an assumption that cold air makes the inner surface of the respiratory tract dryer and, thus, more susceptible to viruses. Therefore, it’s important to have a strong immune system. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get enough rest.