A cold is caused not by drafts, but by viruses: debunking the myth

      The culprit of the illness is not cold air, but viruses that are transmitted from person to person.

      Mom says sternly, "Close the window!", grandma shakes her finger: "You'll catch a cold!". And here you are, sitting wrapped in a blanket, while outside there’s such an enticing fresh breeze... And do you know what’s the funniest part? The draft has almost nothing to do with it.

      Who really causes the cold?

      Colds are caused not by open windows, but by viruses — rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses. They come to us not from the window, but from other people: through coughing and sneezing; handshakes; dirty hands after holding onto bus handrails. Yes, cold air can slightly weaken the local immunity of the nasal mucosa. But without a virus — you can sit under a draft all day, and nothing will happen.

      What to do instead of panicking?

      Instead of sealing all the windows, follow these simple rules: wash your hands more often; don’t touch your face in public places; keep away from sneezing colleagues; regularly ventilate the room — fresh air is beneficial.

      A draft is a convenient "scapegoat". It won’t object, it won’t make excuses. Meanwhile, the real culprit is sitting two desks away and sniffing again. Remember: an open window is not an enemy, but a source of oxygen. And the main protection against a cold is a clear conscience and clean hands.

      photo by the author

      Yulia Kazamarova

      More news about the event:

      A cold is caused not by a draft, but by viruses: debunking the myth

      The culprit of the illness is not cold air, but viruses that are transmitted from person to person.

      Mom says sternly, "Close the window!", grandma shakes her finger: "You'll catch a cold!". 11:11 04.06.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      A cold is caused not by a draft, but by viruses: debunking the myth

      The culprit of the illness is not cold air, but viruses that are transmitted from person to person.

      Mom says sternly, "Close the window!", grandma shakes her finger: "You'll catch a cold!". 11:07 04.06.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk