With the freezing cold temperatures we have been having recently, it’s hard not to think about how the cold weather might affect our chances of getting sick. Well, a recent study looked at this very topic.

Researchers at Yale looked at the effect of temperature on a common virus that causes colds. In the study, the researchers looked at the immune response to the rhinovirus. The rhinovirus is the most common cause of the common cold. Using mouse cells, the researchers studied the effect of temperature on viral replication.

The study found that there was a weaker immune response to the virus at lower temperatures. This weaker immune response may allow the virus to replicate more aggressively. This, in turn, could lead to a higher chance of developing a viral infection.

So, there may be some scientific basis to the old adage of keeping warm to avoid getting sick.

A cold can lead to nasal stuffiness, nasal drainage, facial pressure, and a general feeling of misery. In most situations, a cold goes away on its own. Sometimes, though, a cold is just the beginning. A cold can help create conditions that might make a bacterial sinus infection more likely. In some situations, lingering infections and inflammation can lead to chronic nasal and sinus problems like chronic sinusitis.

Here is an interview with one of the study’s authors conducted by Science Friday:

Here are some additional links about the study: Article by Science Friday. Summary News article on Yale website. Article abstract in PNAS.

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Dr. Parul Goyal, from Syracuse Otolaryngology, gave presentations this week at the International Rhinologic Society Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.   The meeting was the largest Rhinology conference held in the Middle East, featuring speakers and participants from all over the world.  The aim of the meeting was for surgeons to learn and share knowledge about the treatment of problems affecting the nose and sinuses.

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Many patients suffer from chronic nasal congestion.  There are many problems in the nose that can cause nasal congestion.  Problems that can lead to nasal congestion include a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, and narrow nasal valves.  Patients who suffer from chronic problems with nasal congestion sometimes benefit from surgery.

Drs. Goyal and Suryadevara both specialize in nasal surgery.  Dr. Goyal is a Rhinologist who focuses on surgery involving the structures inside the nose.  Dr. Suryadevara is a Facial Plastic Surgeon who focuses on external nasal reconstruction.  The two surgeons frequently work together on patients with complex problems affecting the nose and sinuses.  In addition to performing surgery, both doctors teach other physicians about the types of surgery used to treat patients with nasal congestion.  The two have also published research studies about surgery to treat nasal valve problems.

The nasal valve is typically the most narrow portion of a patient’s nose.  In patients who have chronic congestion, this area can be particularly  narrow.  In their courses, Drs. Goyal and Suryadevara described how physicians can diagnose and treat patients who have narrow nasal valves.  Both doctors point out that the best way to diagnose problems in patients with nasal congestion is to carefully examine the nose.  They do that by looking at the shape, size, and strength of the structures on the inside and the outside of the nose.  For the inside of the nose, using a tool called an endoscope can be very helpful.  After finding the narrow areas, surgeons should target surgery to an individual patient’s problems.

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Dr. Lindsay Sobin

Dr. Parul Goyal

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