Climate change increasing cold in early summer

By Yoon Ja-young

With the temperature rising above 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, the summer has already begun. However, we see many people around us suffering from colds. Contrary to common belief, the common cold is more prevalent around this time of the year than in winter, according to data from Chungang University Hospital.

Among the 30,978 patients who visited the hospital with the common cold from 2009 to 2012, 19 percent came in March and April, and 18 percent in May and June. They make up a bigger portion than that of January and February at 15 percent, or November and February at 17 percent.

“People generally think that we catch a cold when the weather is cold, but colds are caused by viruses mostly when our immunity level is lower. When the season is changing, the daily temperature range is big, and more people catch cold as their body hasn’t adapted to the temperature changes amid weakening immunity,” said Prof. Jung Jae-woo of the hospital. While the temperature is high in the afternoon, it falls steeply in the evening these days, especially when it rains. The huge daily temperature gap makes people prone to catch cold.

Disappearance of spring

She noted that patients with colds in May and June have rapidly increased over the past few years. This may have to do with climate change. “On top of the huge daily temperature range, climate change, in which the season switches directly to the hot summer from the cold winter (without spring), seems to have somewhat affected the surge (of early summer cold patients),” she said. Seoul had snow on April 10, but the temperature immediately soared to above 30 degrees in May, without allowing much time for spring season. The human body, meanwhile, isn’t accustomed to the drastic change.

The doctor notes that summer colds are also common. The hospital’s data show that 14 percent of cold patients were in July and August, which is little different from the figures in January and February. She explained that it has to do with air conditioning. As one goes to hot outdoors from the air-conditioned indoors, they experience a big temperature gap, eventually suffering common cold symptoms such as headaches, neuralgia, backache and stomach disorders.

Dry air also makes people catch cold. As the air-conditioner pulls down the room temperature by liquefying the moisture in the air, the humidity rate falls to around 30 to 40 percent after one hour of air conditioning. In such circumstances, the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs gets dry and loses immunity, being vulnerable to respiratory diseases. The professor thus advised maintaining the room temperature at above 25 degrees Celsius, and the gap between the indoor and the outdoor temperatures at less than five degrees. Being directly exposed to the breeze of the air-conditioner isn’t recommended, either.

If you are wet with sweat, you should get rid of the sweat before entering an air-conditioned room. Long sleeves are recommended, and it is also helpful to take light exercise outdoor and drink warm water or tea from time to time. When continuing air-conditioning, it is important to ventilate once every hour.

“As the cold is a virus transmitted from other people, one is recommended to avoid crowded areas and wash their hands often.” She added that as one is more vulnerable to cold when overworked, one should take enough rest and good nutrition. They should also avoid excessive drinking or smoking.

Summer colds shouldn’t be taken lightly, she stressed. “If you leave the summer cold, it may progress into bronchitis or pneumonia. If the cold symptoms continue for over two weeks, you might suspect bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, or asthma. Hence it is recommended that you visit a clinic and get appropriate checkups.”