My dad claims that you get swine flu from not wearing a coat, i thought it was a virus you get from picking up things with germs on them. which is true?
It is an old wives tale that you get sick from being cold. But, if you are sick, staying warm is important, especially for your lungs. Also, if you don’t dress appropriately in general you are placing undue burden on your body to keep your temperature up. But, you are right in the most literal way, you catch the flu because the virus enters your body either by someone coughing or sneezing on you, or you touch something that has the virus on it and you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Definitely the latter, you have to come in contact with a surface that has the infectious agent. I’d make a guess that he’s going off the old theory that being cold gives you a cold. Which is also wrong, by the way. it’s a normal virus.
@JLeslie well, fair, it is a good idea to put as little stress on your body as necessary, especially when sick, so there is that aspect.
It is a virus. You cannot get the flu from not wearing a coat.
The virus is airborne. You most likely get it from being in proximity to someone infected. If they sneeze or cough, droplets containing virus can land on objects or be breathed in. They can be left on doorknobs
@poofandmook It does, but it also tends to make infection agents less effective, too, so it’s a bit of a wash. it’s more important for the sake of healing then preventing infection.
We were just discussing the germ theory of disease in another thread, Your dad’s reasoning has to do with the enduring power of folk beliefs, not medicine.
no coat + cold air is equal to wet hair + cold air. Catching a virus has nothing to do with what you have on, or the status of your hair….you could have ten coats on and still get the swine flu….