{"id":38075,"date":"2025-08-22T07:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=38075"},"modified":"2025-08-26T19:05:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T19:05:35","slug":"dont-fall-for-these-4-respiratory-infection-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/dont-fall-for-these-4-respiratory-infection-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t fall for these 4 respiratory infection myths","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Respiratory infections are a common foe in the fall and winter months. Just as common are the myths surrounding them.<\/p>\n<p>Does cold weather actually make you sick? Can vitamin C stop a cold in its tracks? Does green or yellow mucus mean you need antibiotics?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/provider\/gretchen-lasalle\/\">Gretchen LaSalle, MD, a family medicine physician<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/location\/rockwood-clinic-quail-run\/\">MultiCare Rockwood Clinic &#8211; Quail Run<\/a> dispels some persistent misconceptions about how respiratory infections spread, how to treat them and what prevention strategies are likely to work.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth: You can get sick from being outside in the cold.<br \/>\nTruth: Exposure to the cold alone does not cause respiratory infections.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Germs like viruses and bacteria, not the chill in the air, are the culprit behind respiratory infections. So, why the uptick in illness when the temperature dips?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the fall and winter, we tend to spend more time indoors in close proximity to one another, sometimes in places that aren\u2019t well-ventilated, so it\u2019s easier for germs to spread,\u201d Dr. LaSalle says. \u201cPlus, some viruses tend to be more stable in colder rather than warmer temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While cold weather doesn\u2019t directly cause respiratory infections, it can affect the functioning of your immune system. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacionline.org\/article\/S0091-6749(22)01423-3\/fulltext\">A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology<\/a> shows that cold temperatures can lower the immune response in the nose \u2014 the part of the body where you\u2019re likely to first encounter germs \u2014 potentially making you more susceptible to getting sick.<\/p>\n<p>So when the weather turns brisk, it\u2019s a good idea to bundle up. Your immune system will thank you.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth: A respiratory infection isn\u2019t contagious without symptoms.<br \/>\nTruth: You can spread respiratory infections even if you\u2019re symptom-free.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many viruses are contagious before they cause symptoms like coughing and sneezing. That\u2019s what makes them so adept at spreading from person to person. In fact, some viruses are most contagious in that brief period between exposure and onset of symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe see this a lot with COVID,\u201d Dr. LaSalle says. \u201cPeople who have it, but don\u2019t have symptoms, or who have really mild symptoms, can easily spread it to others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Washing your hands consistently, even when you feel well, is one way to help stop the spread of germs. <a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/patient-resources\/healthy-living\/respiratory-illnesses\/\">Visit our Respiratory Illnesses page<\/a> for more tips on how to protect yourself and others.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth: You can prevent respiratory infections by taking vitamin C supplements.<br \/>\nTruth: Regular use of vitamin C supplements is unlikely to protect most people from respiratory infections.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Found in fruits and vegetables and some fortified foods, vitamin C helps support a healthy immune system. Most people get enough of this nutrient from their diet. If you consume more than the recommended daily amount, your body just eliminates the extra vitamin C because it can\u2019t be stored.<\/p>\n<p>Many people turn to vitamin C supplements to prevent sickness. But studies have shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK279544\/\">long-term use of vitamin C supplements is not effective at preventing respiratory infections<\/a> in most people. However, some studies show that <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10712193\/\">vitamin C may slightly reduce the duration and severity of a cold if taken before symptoms<\/a> appear.<\/p>\n<p>Data also suggests that <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7356429\/\">zinc supplements are effective at decreasing the duration of viral illnesses<\/a>. But as with any supplement, it\u2019s best to consult with your doctor or other health care provider first.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith supplements, more is not always better, and in some cases more can be harmful,\u201d Dr. LaSalle says. \u201cYour doctor can help you determine if a supplement might be useful for treating your illness and offer guidance about dosing.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth: Green or yellow mucus is a sign you need an antibiotic.<br \/>\nTruth: Discolored mucus does not necessarily indicate the need for antibiotics.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When you have a respiratory infection, you\u2019re likely to experience a range of mucus colors, including yellow and green, over the course of several days. These colors can be associated with both viral and bacterial infections.<\/p>\n<p>Antibiotics are only useful for treating bacterial infections. So, how do you know if you have one?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDiagnosing a bacterial infection is less about the color of mucus and more about the duration and type of symptoms people are experiencing,\u201d Dr. LaSalle says. \u201cSymptoms like prolonged sinus congestion, a fever, or pain in the face or teeth can indicate the presence of a bacterial infection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even if you have a bacterial infection, antibiotics may not be necessary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome bacterial infections will resolve on their own, without the use of antibiotics,\u201d Dr. LaSalle says. \u201cDepending on your individual situation, we may treat conservatively at first to give your body a chance to fight off an infection on its own.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re concerned you may have may have a bacterial infection, visit an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indigohealth.com\/\">urgent care clinic<\/a> or consult with your <a href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/find-a-doctor\/?query=&amp;serviceLine=123\">primary care provider<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Respiratory infections are a common foe in the fall and winter months. Just as common are the myths surrounding them. Does cold weather actually make you sick? Can vitamin C stop a cold in its tracks? Does green or yellow mucus mean you need antibiotics? Gretchen LaSalle, MD, a family medicine physician at MultiCare Rockwood [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,67,99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-kids-health","category-primary-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Don\u2019t fall for these 4 respiratory infection myths - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does cold weather cause colds? Should you take vitamin C? 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