Does Going Outside Without a Jacket Really Make You Sick?

When I was a kid, my mom used to always tell me something this time of year, nearly every single time I would get ready to walk out the front door.

The Classic Reminder We All Heard Growing Up

Put a jacket on or you will catch a cold

I am sure that many parents argue with their children about getting them to do specific things. Remember when we were all told you couldn't turn on the light in the car at night because it was illegal? Turns out that wasn't the case. As an adult, however, that light can certainly be distracting, especially with the headlights that are equipped on vehicles in the modern age we live in.

Does Cold Weather Really Cause Colds?

I cannot help but think about that saying, Put on a jacket, or you will catch a cold, though. As many of us know, you catch a cold by contracting a virus. But it begs the question, can you catch a cold by being out in the cold without a jacket?

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Many of us in Colorado, for one reason or another, will simply go without a jacket. Maybe one person runs hot, or, like many high school students, they think that jackets are simply dumb. But can a jacket prevent you from catching a cold?

READ MORE: Colorado Snow Driving Tips to Stay Safe

Believe it or not, there is a little bit of truth to that ominous threat of not wearing a jacket and catching a cold. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's more about your immune system and the energy it takes to warm you than it is the cold actually giving you a bug.

If you're a little bit colder outside, your body's immune system may just drop a little bit because it's spending extra effort to keep you warm. That's not with everybody, but in some cases, it may predispose you to a cold,

Said Mayo Clinic Dr. Bracamonte.

Jackets Don’t Prevent Viruses, But They Still Help

While a coat won't stop you from catching a cold, it will certainly keep you a bit warmer while preserving your energy for your immune system, which does everything in its power to keep you healthy.

READ MORE: Colorado Winter Health Tips to Stay Well

So the next time you are thinking about stepping foot outside of the house without a jacket, you might want to put one on anyway. You never know when your immune system is fighting off a virus, until it is actually too late.