Changes in temperature open the door to viruses

Changes in temperature increase your chances of falling ill.

Strictly speaking, cold weather and winter are not a cause of infection; however, they do increase the risk of getting sick. Not only does cold weather weaken the immune system, but it also dries out and irritates the mucous membranes. This phenomenon also alters the defence mechanisms of the respiratory tract.

Spending more time in indoor crowded spaces also increases the risk of virus transmission. What is more, viruses are more resistant and contagious when it is cold.

As a matter of fact, the transmission of viral infections occurs when healthy people inhale the droplets that infected people cough or sneeze into the air.

If you want to cope with the first symptoms of winter illnesses, try to avoid home remedies, such as taking antibiotics without first consulting a doctor. This is a big mistake that may have serious consequences. Since 80% of respiratory infections are of viral origin, antibiotics do not work. People often overuse antibiotics without asking a doctor first, not taking the right dose or undergoing the treatment for as long as necessary.

In the long term, this bad attitude may lead to drug resistance. This is a real issue that might cause antibiotic resistance to increase by 13 times and become the main cause of death by 2050.

My advice as an ENT specialist is to take antibiotics only after a specialised medical examination and only in case of bacterial infections, such as tonsillitis with white spots in children or sinusitis. In all other cases, such as sore throats or colds, mucolytics, fluidifiers, and antipyretics are sufficient.