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Wet socks, being cols, going to bed with wet hair, does it really cause cold's or is it a myth?

7 replies

Marne · 29/08/2011 21:30

I thought colds could only be caught from other people? can you develop cold symptoms from wearing wet socks?

I went to a large car boot sale this morning, got up very early and stupidly put socks on under my crocs (was half asleep), then walked around on wet grass for 3 hours and got very wet (my socks and my jeans), i now have a sore throat, my ears are hurting and my nose is running, felt cold all day. Is it because of my wet socks?

OP posts:
Marne · 29/08/2011 21:31

Title was ment to say 'being cold' not 'cols' ,my brain is not working Sad.

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 29/08/2011 21:32

The common cold virus causes the cold. The other things may chill you and temporarily reduce your resstance to the virus (sorry about spelling but bloody ipad makes it hard to correct) but cannot give you a cold if no virus is presnt.

onepieceofcremeegg · 29/08/2011 21:36

I have read that being very cold/having wet hair will lower your resistance slightly, making you more susceptible to "catching" a cold/virus.
I try not to let the dds go to bed with wet hair, particular in cold weather, more because I find it uncomfortable myself rather than a worry about colds.

Imo the best way to avoid colds is to practise good handwashing. People sneeze and children wipe snot over all kind of places so I encourage my dds to wash hands before eating.

DeWe · 30/08/2011 10:28

I often go to bed with wet hair, and rarely get colds. I do find if the hair is round my neck when wet then I get a stiff neck come the morning.

lilyliz · 30/08/2011 14:05

you muswt have caught the cold somewhere else as it takes a day or two for the symptoms to be felt.Cold wet or anything else won't give you the virus ,you have to be in contact with it but these do lower you immune system making you more vulnerable.

hiddenhome · 30/08/2011 20:39

During Victorian times, people used to take cold baths in order to stimulate their immune systems, thus preventing the suffering from cold viruses and the like Smile

nightcat · 30/08/2011 22:54

If you were in completely sterile environment then you wouldn't get cold with wet/cold socks or hair, but we all carry viruses on us so yes, you would catch anything that's going, including those we have already in the system like a cold-sore / herpex would come out too.
Every time I get a briefest shiver in a draft, I get a cold sore, I don't even have to have anything wet on me.

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