Cold coddles colds

Cooler temperatures in places like your nose prevent host cells from fighting back

computer simulation of rhinovirus outer coat

COLD SUITS COLDS  Rhinoviruses (a computer simulation of the outer coat shown) reproduce better in the nasal passages than in the lungs, partly because cooler temperatures in the nose prevent cells lining the airways from mounting a full defense.

National Center for Biotechnology Information

Chilly winter weather alone may not cause colds, but the cold weather may numb the body’s ability to fight off cold viruses, a new study suggests.