Can you catch a cold if you stand in the rain, scientists explain the famous myth

It's a common misconception that getting wet from rain makes you sick. Rain itself doesn't make you sick.

Being wet and cold for long periods of time can lower your body temperature and weaken your immune system. A weak immune system increases your risk of catching a virus like a cold or the flu.

Does rain really make you sick?

If you get caught in the rain or run in the rain, you won't get sick, because rain doesn't transmit viruses.

Research shows that cold and flu viruses spread more in cool, dry conditions. They don't spread well in humid, wet conditions, like those brought on by rain.

So, you don't get sick from the rain itself, but if you stay wet for a long time, it can lower your body temperature and weaken your immune response.

Being in the cold can also cause the blood vessels in the nose to constrict, impeding the circulation of germ-fighting white blood cells.

What causes the cold?

The viruses that cause colds and flu are spread through the bodily fluids of an infected person.

They spread more when we are in close contact with sick people or contaminated surfaces.

More people get sick during cold and rainy seasons, but this is not because of the rain itself, but because people stay indoors more, where viruses spread more easily.

Can rain cause hypothermia?

Staying outside in cold temperatures – with or without rain – can lead to hypothermia, a condition where body temperature drops dangerously low.

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses more heat than it can produce. Even temperatures above 4.4°C (40°F) can cause hypothermia if the body gets wet from rain or sweat.

Hypothermia is very dangerous and can be fatal. Symptoms include:

Turmoil

somnolence

Extreme fatigue

Loss of coordination

Memory loss

vibration

Slurred or slowed speech

Hypothermia also affects brain function, so the person may not realize they are in an emergency.

Seek medical help immediately if someone exhibits these symptoms after being in the rain. /Telegraph/