Cold weather causing pneumonia? vent

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2006

I may have an idea on this one....think about the age of most of the grannies mentioned (mine would be in her late 80s if she was still with us...) This is the generation that grew up in the shadow of the 1918 flu outbreak. Their parents saw entire families get wiped out from what surely looked to them like pneumonia. A guy came back from WWI in the small town where my great grand parents lived, and they had a "meal on the grounds" after church to celebrate. He was infected, and two weeks later, his entire family was gone, 2/3 of the town had gotten sick, and 1/3 of the sick had died. As far back as I remember, both my great grannie and my grandmother were terror stricken at the first sniffle, the first cough of anyone in the family. Grannie didn't remember the outbreak, but great-grannie wouldn't let anyone out of the house with wet hair, only believed in bathing once a week during winter, etc., and that's how my grannie was raised. I'd love to know if the wet hair - barefoot in winter - sleeveless after Labor day stuff existed prior to the 1918 outbreak....which really kicked off in the US in September.

My grannie's older brother died during the outbreak, at the age of 14 months....

oramar · Nov 9, 2006

I think that in the early stages of an infectious illness people get a chill. They interpet this chill as coming from outside of them not inside them. Thus rose the story getting a chill brings on an illness. That is just my theory. :coollook:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

This is just a vent.. My grandma told my brother not to go outside without his jacket because he'd catch a cold..or even worse pneumonia. But according to my microbio textbook, this isn't true because colds are viruses and pneumonia is bacterial/viral/many other causes NOT related to weather. When I mentioned this (in front of my ENTIRE family) they laughed in my face and basically acted like I was a complete idiot. I told them that as a nursing student, I know to not give out any information unless it's referenced. But they replied that it's "common knowledge" that going out into the cold will cause these problems. Then my grandma had the nerve to say that because she was a "nurse" and I'm only a student that she was right and I was wrong. She's a nurse's aide/home care worker NOT a nurse. I corrected her and she was like "it's the same thing." Grrrr my family makes my mad sometimes. :angryfire Anyway I'm just wondering what you guys think about this... from what I've searched on the internet I can find no truth that cold causes colds.. the only thing I've found is that colds are more likely in winter due to everyone staying indoors in close contact with eachother. Is there ANY truth to colds causing colds/pneumonia? Also, I've had things happen like this before, how do you get people to believe you when you KNOW you're right about something? I've tried showing them reliable sources where I have the info, like textbooks and drug guides, but my families convinced I don't know what I'm talking about. This has caused me to have anxiety in clinicals with doing patient teaching, because I worry my patients will think I'm giving them unreliable info, but so far the clients I've had seem to appreciate the info I provide them with..Wow, that felt good to let that all out!

So what is your problem. There is a lot of basis for truth in some of those old addages your grandmother tells you. Doesnt mean they are literally true or false in todays age. There is a lot to be learned from the past. And someday if you are lucky enough to live that long, maybe your grandchildren will be upset with what you say.

RunningWithScissors · Nov 10, 2006

Ever keep tropical fish?

Then you know what happens if the water temp gets too cool; it's called cold stress and your fish will end up with nasty fungal infections and the like.

So, we believe, humans are also susceptable to cold stress and its implications.

ALSO, never run with scissors. :rolleyes:

TazziRN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

in my opinion, i think going outside without proper attire and lead to a cold and the cold may eventually turn to pneumonia is not treated properly.
according to wikepedia:
pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the alveoli (microscopic air-filled sacs of the lung responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere) become inflamed and flooded with fluid. pneumonia can result from a variety of causes, including infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. pneumonia may also occur from chemical or physical injury to the lungs, or indirectly due to another medical illness, such as lung cancer or alcohol abuse.

but the cold air with or without wet hair does not give anyone an illness!!!!

SaderNurse05, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

But the cold air with or without wet hair does not give anyone an illness!!!!

:yelclap: :yelclap:

Can't find the Yeah That icon but as usual Tazzi is right on.

TazziRN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

:yelclap: :yelclap:
Can't find the Yeah That icon but as usual Tazzi is right on.

*blush*

Aw, shucks!

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

ever keep tropical fish?
then you know what happens if the water temp gets too cool; it's called cold stress and your fish will end up with nasty fungal infections and the like.
so, we believe, humans are also susceptable to cold stress and its implications.
also, never run with scissors.

but they are cold-blooded.

we are warm-blooded.

totally different body chemistries.

besides. honestly? i haven't used a hair-drier in about 18 years. seriously. and i've got long hair. back when i was in high school, i walked to school with wet hair. temperatures were often below freezing. when i'd get to school, my hair would be frozen.

though i now live in a warmer climate, i still wash my hair before i go to work, and hope it is dry by the time i get their. sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. pneumonia? never. a cold? rarely. now, those pesky allergies.......those are a different story. but, still not caused by either wet hair and/or cold weather.

georgy · Nov 10, 2006

its all the way ppl hav been thinking all these years..

only few can change.

RunningWithScissors · Nov 10, 2006

originally posted by runningwithscissors
ever keep tropical fish?

then you know what happens if the water temp gets too cool; it's called cold stress and your fish will end up with nasty fungal infections and the like.

so, we believe, humans are also susceptable to cold stress and its implications.

also, never run with scissors.
but they are cold-blooded.
we are warm-blooded.

ah yes, this is true, and you make a good point here.

but in the same fish-keeping analogy, if the ph of the water in the tank is not within a specific range, the fish will die. the same with humans.

just an observation. :rolleyes:

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

This thread has just become dumb..lol

Ah yes, this is true, and you make a good point here.
But in the same fish-keeping analogy, if the ph of the water in the tank is not within a specific range, the fish will die. The same with humans.
Just an observation.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2006

If your theory is true then every time we are exposed to heat or cold we should drop dead because out PH is off....

Ah yes, this is true, and you make a good point here.
But in the same fish-keeping analogy, if the ph of the water in the tank is not within a specific range, the fish will die. The same with humans.
Just an observation.

Cold weather causing pneumonia? *vent*

Cold weather causing pneumonia? vent