A Weather Illness Myth

When it comes to taking the blame for causing colds or the flu, experts say weather simply gets a bad rap.

Cold weather does not in fact cause a person to get sick. That’s because cold and flu viruses are spread by direct or indirect contact with respiratory secretions. Direct contact could happen through handshaking, for example, and indirect contact by being coughed or sneezed on.

Colds and the flu are especially common in the winter not because of the cold weather, say experts with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Maryland, U.S., but because people spend more time indoors where viruses have a greater opportunity to spread from one person to another.

Children are especially vulnerable to getting colds because they haven’t built up resistance against many cold or flu strains, which is why they can typically suffer from six to eight colds per year. Adults over 60, meanwhile, suffer from the fewest colds – about one a year – because they have a well-established immunity to many cold strains.

While the cold weather cannot cause you to get a cold or the flu, the dry air that accompanies winter may have an impact. Dry conditions may increase the chance of infection because viruses can thrive when humidity levels are low, according to NIAID. Furthermore, since nasal passages are drier, they may be more susceptible to infection.

Since germs are transmitted through direct contact, hand washing is key to preventing both colds and the flu. Regularly cleaning household surfaces with disinfectants can also make a difference, experts say.

Task 1

1. respiratory (par. 2)  f	a. the fight against something   4
2. secretions (par. 2)    d	b. passed from one person to another   6
3. vulnerable (par. 4)   i	c. protection against a disease     5
4. resistance (par. 4)   a	d. liquids released by humans  2
5. immunity (par. 4)   c	e. easily hurt or attacked   7
6. transmitted (par. 6)   b	f. related to breathing   1
7. impact (par. 5)  e	g. grow or increase    8
8. thrive (par. 5)     g	h. passages inside the nose  10
9. susceptible (par. 5)   j	i. affect or influence   3
10. nasal passages (par. 5) h	j. at risk    9

Task 2

Idiom                                                  Somewhat ill                         Very ill

1. To be not quite oneself                                                                                       ----

2. To be sick as a dog                                                                                     ----

3. To be under the weather                                ----

4. To have a bug                                                                                                  ----

5. Not feeling 100 per cent                                      ----

Task 3

1. Margaret didn't come to work today. I think she may not feeling 100 per cent .

2. I am not feeling 100 per cent . I’d rather stay home tonight.

3. Nora must to be under the weather She was sneezing all day yesterday and today she is not at work.

4. Our trip to Mexico was a disaster. Mike lost his wallet and I am not feeling 100 per cent for three days.

5. I have to sick as a dog  I think I’ll go straight to bed as soon as I get home.