It’s often said that going out in the cold can give you the common cold — but the science doesn’t back that up. In this video, learn where this myth comes from and why the cold is more common during cold weather, according to Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, Pharmacy Editor at GoodRx.
Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About common cold.
Douglas, R. G., Jr., et al. (1968). Exposure to cold environment and rhinovirus common cold — failure to demonstrate effect. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Winter illness guide.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPHPatricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.
