confused.com

ok, heres a thought...

why is chest infections worse int he winter, when they say germs grow in warmth...surly infections should be worse in the summer when the heat is at its highest...

Just a random thought for 0930 in the morning

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Im not really sure of myself but my explanation would be that in the winter (for reasons i cannot explain...) there are a lot more different sorts of infections hanging about so we could get several differemt sorts.of infections one on top of the other.... Also maybe we actually overheat our homes? Ie they end up actually hotter in winter with the heating on than in the summer at natural temperature....

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thanx...it was a middle of the night thought...and it just occured to me that surly it should be the other way around

obviously my world is very different to the actual work!

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I think, but don't quote me on this, that there is a theory that links it to reduced Vitamin D levels in the winter, which may possibly make people more susceptible to respiratory things like flu and chest infections. Someone working in a mental hospital gave his patients Vit D supplements during a flu epidemic and found that there was a much lower incidence of flu on his ward than in the others where no one got extra Vit D. Only one small study and not randomised, controlled and double blind or anything, but interesting.

I think a lot more work needs to be done on this though, I don't know where the science is but just thought I'd share as it is a possible theory. Vit D deficiency has also possibly been linked to asthma though again i don't know where the science is at on that one.

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i think this winter i will take both extra vitamin c and d to keep the colds out!!! I really cant be dealing with having an infection this year!!!

thanx for the solving of confused.com

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Could be because we tend to be indoors alot more in closer contact with people. Mini germ breeding factories oops meant children, go back to school having picked up infections which they like to share. I know that when I was working September meant the start of infections for me as the people who had children seemed to catch bugs once the schools went back. I think there's less UV light in the winter which can kill bugs. I also eat less food such as salads which I always thought were full of vitamins to help you fight infections.

Interesting about the vitamin D comment. NWLC has been checking patients levels this year along with the normal immunity checks & recommending supplements if levels are low. Was told that low levels could be due to prolonged taking of steroids & that it also needed to aid calcium uptake. Has anyone else had their levels checked?