Winter and its freezing temperatures are often synonymous with illness.

Dr Jimmy Mohamed, health consultant for Europe 1, recalls that the cold snap as such does not exist, but that the period is indeed conducive to catch various viruses.

And as with the Covid-19, the best way to avoid them is to respect the barrier gestures.

>> The popular expression readily evokes "cold snaps" to describe the diseases that circulate more easily in winter.

However, this abusive name in fact groups together several viruses, recalls Dr. Jimmy Mohamed, health consultant from Europe 1. The doctor calls, as for the Covid-19, to respect barrier gestures to avoid falling ill.

"No, the 'cold snap' does not exist. Besides, the cold has never struck and does not strike either, even if it is true that we get sick a little more often. in winter than in summer. The cold will indeed allow the viruses to be a little more resistant, with a more favorable humidity rate. They will be able to be more contagious and on the other hand, the cold makes us a little more fragile.

Rhino-pharyngitis, bronchitis, gastroenteritis

You have skin in your nose.

We call it the nasal mucosa.

Well this will be a bit more permeable and therefore expose you more easily to respiratory viruses when it's cold.

But if you get sick, it's the result of a viral infection.

It means someone made you sick.

It wasn't the cold snap that gave you that.

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So obviously, if you ever have a runny nose, get tested to be sure it's not the coronavirus.

And if that's not it, it means that you may have nasopharyngitis, bronchitis or even sometimes gastroenteritis.

It means that somewhere, you may have relaxed a little in barrier gestures.

So, we will have to be vigilant.

Dress warmly, with lots of sweaters and scarves, it's still useful

However, do not go walking around naked and saying that the 'cold snap' does not exist.

Because in fact, you have eyelashes in your bronchi, in your lungs.

Normally, they are very flexible, like the ones we have just at eye level.

When you encounter a viral infection, the viruses, the bacteria will navigate quietly along those cilia in the bronchi and will be eliminated.

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But when it's really cold, those eyelashes get hard, like a comb.

And instead of browsing for elimination, viruses will be trapped right away and you will get sick.

This viral infection can therefore be favored by the fact that you are not going to wear a scarf or put on a big sweater.

So be careful, even if, in general, if you respect barrier gestures, you should not catch coronavirus or any viral infection.

And maybe that's why we don't see a lot of flu right now. "