Preventing Autumn Illnesses

When the leaves fall in autumn, your immune system may well take a beating.

Not only are you more susceptible to the damp and cold, but the changes in humidity and temperature increase the chance of illness.

The cold and flu seasons begin this time of year because of the drop in humidity, and because adults and children spend more time inside sharing germs, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The dryness of the fall and winter also leads to more colds and influenza infections by drying out the nasal passage, which lets more viruses and bacteria enter the system, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, the sudden changes in temperature strain our immune systems, since the body takes hours to acclimate itself.

Perhaps the easiest way to prevent the flu or a cold is by washing your hands to avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses. You should also limit exposure to people who have colds or the flu.

However, our immune systems appear to have seasonal defenses as well. A study last year by Ohio State University showed mice naturally boost their own immune systems as the daylight hours dwindle in late summer and autumn. Humans do they same, the scientists speculated, so they can prepare for the health challenges of autumn and winter.

More information

For guidelines on preventing colds and flu, visit the American Lung Association.

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