Our parents often told us that let’s not walk barefoot because we can catch a cold. And for once, without setting a precedent, the mothers are not entirely right.
He Dr Manuel Visospecialist … in hematology and internal medicine, wanted to dismantle, in one of his latest publications on digital platforms, one of the most stubborn myths at this time of year: colds are not caused by having cold feet.
Without viruses, there are no colds, runny noses and coughs
In the midst of a rebound in respiratory infections in Spain and the rising flu epidemic, the popularizer and content creator takes advantage of a recording to remind people that the science is clear. “Colds do not come from the feet, they do not come from the cold, they come from viruses that are spread through the air or by hands then penetrate through the nose, mouth or even the eyes,” he explains in the video published on his Tik Tok account.
The doctor wanted to respond to the classic warning from parents and grandparents: “Put on your shoes, put on your socks, you will catch a cold.” However, Viso emphasizes, “even if the child is barefoot, if there is no virus, there is no cold, it’s as simple as that.”
The doctor’s statements come in a context where Spain is experiencing a widespread flu epidemicparticularly intense this year. According to the latest data from the Carlos III Health Institute, the rate of respiratory infections exceeds 164.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a figure that already exceeds the peaks reached in the last three seasons and which aggravates an epidemic that led the Ministry of Health and the autonomous communities to agree at the beginning of the month on a common prevention and response protocol.
However, the expert specifies that, even if the cold does not cause illness, it can temporarily weaken natural defenses or make closed environments where viruses spread easily more comfortable.
Flu and cold: they seem the same but they are not
Although they share the same symptoms, the flu and the common cold are different illnesses. The common cold is usually mild, with nasal congestion, sneezing, and a sore throat. The flu, caused by the influenza virus, comes on suddenly and causes high fever, muscle aches, severe fatigue and sometimes a dry cough.
For its part, colds last a few days, the flu can last more than a week and cause complications. THE Doctors advise getting the flu vaccine every year and reinforce prevention habits such as washing hands or ventilating enclosed spaces.
About The Author
