Cold weather causing pneumonia? *vent*

[wannabesedated]

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!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

therefore in the majoirty of pneumonia cases are caused by a bacteria or germ of some sort.... these things grow in warm atmospheres....not in cold.

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.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I don't even own a hair dryer. My hair never dries. I put it in a bun while wet, it is still wet when I let down at night. I have been doing it for years, regardless of the weather. I never had pneumonia, or even the flu. I don't believe cold weather is the cause of pneumonia. I would then think a coat and hair dryer would cure it, not antibiotics.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I realize this is anecdotal . . .but I sent my two older boys to school with wet hair and in the winter, we get snow. I also send my 5 year old to school with wet hair. Very rarely do they get colds and NO pneumonia.

You have to be exposed to a virus or a bacteria to get sick.

Having a wet head might do it if my son rubbed his wet head against the snotty nose of a classmate with a cold and then sucked on his hair . . . . . :uhoh3:

steph

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

ok too personal..but I am really sensitive to cold air .. closes my airway right up.. so then I cough for air..then I pee my pants lol

So... my old wives tale shall be "Going out in the cold makes you pee your pants" ok i stayed up all night studying and am now giddy lol

[tvccrn, ASN, RN]

Having a wet head might do it if my son rubbed his wet head against the snotty nose of a classmate with a cold and then sucked on his hair . . . . . :uhoh3:

steph

OH, EEEEWWW

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

OH, EEEEWWW

Sorry . . . . :chair: :rotfl: Got a bit frustrated there huh?

steph

[tvccrn, ASN, RN]

Sorry . . . . :chair: :rotfl: Got a bit frustrated there huh?

steph

SoK. I just didn't see that one coming. LOL

tvccrn

[beachmom]

Whenever I get chilled for any length of time, especially if I am wet too, I will catch a cold. If I'm in the cold but bundled well, I won't catch cold.

I think it is because those flu and cold viruses are everywhere, and if my immune system goes down when I'm chilled, then I get sick. I also get sick if I'm too stressed.

It's usually older people are more concerned about keeping babies and children warm, and if you consider where they are coming from, it makes sense. When my mom was young, people didn't have central heating, so of course, babies were bundled well. Back then, the rule "bundle babies" had a very good reason. Houses are warmer now, but old beliefs live on.