My dad claims that you get swine flu from not wearing a coat, i thought it was a virus you get from picking up things with germs on them. which is true?

It is an old wives tale that you get sick from being cold. But, if you are sick, staying warm is important, especially for your lungs. Also, if you don’t dress appropriately in general you are placing undue burden on your body to keep your temperature up. But, you are right in the most literal way, you catch the flu because the virus enters your body either by someone coughing or sneezing on you, or you touch something that has the virus on it and you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Definitely the latter, you have to come in contact with a surface that has the infectious agent. I’d make a guess that he’s going off the old theory that being cold gives you a cold. Which is also wrong, by the way. it’s a normal virus.

@JLeslie well, fair, it is a good idea to put as little stress on your body as necessary, especially when sick, so there is that aspect.

Being cold lowers your immune system, no?

It is a virus. You cannot get the flu from not wearing a coat.

The virus is airborne. You most likely get it from being in proximity to someone infected. If they sneeze or cough, droplets containing virus can land on objects or be breathed in. They can be left on doorknobs

I thought you got it from drinking Gatorade.

@poofandmook It does, but it also tends to make infection agents less effective, too, so it’s a bit of a wash. it’s more important for the sake of healing then preventing infection.

We were just discussing the germ theory of disease in another thread, Your dad’s reasoning has to do with the enduring power of folk beliefs, not medicine.

@frdelrosario it’s got electrolytes

May I ask how old you are?
Swine flu is more dangerous for children than adults.

no coat + cold air is equal to wet hair + cold air. Catching a virus has nothing to do with what you have on, or the status of your hair….you could have ten coats on and still get the swine flu….

For pete’s sake, NO, you don’t get it from not wearing a coat!!! It IS a virus. It has nothing to do with what you do or don’t wear, or the weather.

you also get polio from running thru the sprinklers in the summer…~

Don’t forget STDs from toilet seats.

You two are terrible! LOLLL

Ask him if you’ll get “piles” by sitting on cold cement~

(hemorrhoids are caused by strain)

@jbfletcherfan Was there any doubt?

@avvooooooo nooooooooooo :D

@pdworkin “We were just discussing the germ theory of disease in another thread,..”
Sounds interesting, what “thread” was that, exactly?

I don’t know, but everyone swore I was infected with the Avian Flu when that was popular.

Still can’t figure out why.

@Grisaille it was because you kept kneeling down and pecking at the ground like a chicken. we thought you knew.~

@Psychedelic_Zebra I thought it was the tail feathers.

@avvooooooo shhhh, remember, he’s sensitive about his ahem, back side.