ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Many of us are trying to prevent catching a cold during the winter months, and FOX 47 has learned many parents actually rely on myths to help their children stay healthy.
In a new poll from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, researchers surveyed more than 1,000 patients with children between the ages of five and 12. The poll found roughly 70% of parents use strategies with little to no scientific evidence to prevent colds.
Three of those myths include:
1.) Going outside with wet hair can make you sick.
2.) Colder weather can bring you down or that being exposed to cold air can cause you to become sick.
3.) Using a multivitamin or supplement can prevent you from catching a cold.
Here’s why the survey, and doctors, say these are myths:
Pediatricians say going outside with wet hair will not make your children sick because in order to catch the cold, one has to be exposed to a virus. The same goes for being exposed to cold air.
“When the weather turns cold, we all run indoors where air is recycled,” said Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, in a CNN interview. “And we’re often in close quarters with other people and viruses. We all sneeze on top of each other.”
Pediatricians also say children who are healthy and eat a balanced diet simply do not need the additional vitamin supplementation, so taking a multivitamin will not help in preventing a child from catching a cold.
“It has never been shown to have any effect on prevention,” said Dr. Michael Russo, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in an interview with FOX 17. “So, parents can save the money.”
According to the study from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Michigan, the best ways to keep from catching a cold are to wash your hands, keep your home clean and avoid friends and family who may be sick.
