Have you ever wondered why, despite taking long showers, you always feel better after getting wet in the rain? The most common response to these queries is usually a negative one. Though it is something we should be aware of, not many of us give it much thought. Our well-being and health are the reason.
It is simpler to comprehend our bodies and keep tabs on our health when we are aware of the precise actions that take place during a given process. This article can be very beneficial to you if you are someone who also became sick right away after being caught in the rain. To find out why this occurs and how to stay well in such a condition.
The rainy season brings many infectious issues such as typhoid diarrhoea, jaundice etc. During the monsoon, the prevalence of mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria chikungunya and dengue grows. However, precipitation can occur throughout the year and off-season rainfall is worse for human health than seasonal downpours.
After getting wet in the rain most people get fever coughing and colds. In addition, there have been reports of diarrhoea during rainy seasons. The major causes of diarrhoea are associated with heavy rainfall and contaminated water supplies, viruses like hepatitis typhoid and coli infections.
Can You Get Sick From Being Wet And Cold?
It is easy to catch a cold, which can lead to a cough and fever if you have a weakened immune system. Because of the increased exposure to bacteria and viruses that occur after getting wet in the rain, we are more susceptible to getting sick from rain. Aside from the cold, this doubles the risk of other illnesses. Rainy weather or being drenched in it lowers your body temperature—sometimes sharply—during the winter when it’s already the lowest.
Sometimes the body cools down to the lowest possible level which makes hypothermia possible. When a person experiences hypothermia their body rapidly loses heat and cannot produce enough heat to keep them warm. Low body temperature can result in death from this. A medical emergency that can impair the body and tax the immune system is hypothermia. This explains why some individuals get feverish right away after getting wet in the rain.
Why Does Rain Make You Sick?
The high moisture content of rainwater makes nearby bacteria viruses and other microorganisms active. A person with weakened immunity or one who is immunocompromised is more susceptible to these microorganisms because they can enter the body through rainwater. They inflict pain and discomfort by entering the body through the mouth and eyes.
Your throat will get sore and your nose will start to hurt. These indicate the presence of dangerous microorganisms within your body. Individuals with lowered immunity may not feel well for a few days or even a week. Your body needs time to heal itself so you must help it along by providing it with the rest and medical care it needs. It is therefore recommended to take a bath after being completely drenched from rainwater.
Why Do We Not Become Sick After A Long Shower?
If getting wet in the rain can result in hypothermia, why is it different when taking a shower? Ignorance or infrequent showering can lead to a build-up of dirt sweat and dead skin cells on your skin. This is why having a shower can help remove the accumulation and protect the skin from getting sick. Showering in low- or high-body-temperature water can boost your immunity and increase your resistance to sickness, according. Its probably safe to take a hot or cold shower. On the other hand, people ought to refrain from taking exceptionally hot or cold showers because they may be hazardous to their health.
6 Ways To Prevent Sick From Rain
Determining the necessary precautions to ward off the virus will be made easier by understanding how people sick from rain. Below are a few of them:
1. When You Go Outside, Pack For The Weather
It is safer to go outside during the rainy season with rain gear on or close at hand especially if you are traveling to and from work. Raincoats or hooded jackets, waterproof shoes and umbrellas fall under this category. Choose a hooded jacket wisely cotton will only absorb the raindrops. Instead, look for a material that repels water. By doing this getting wet doesn’t cause the body to undergo a tremendous temperature shift. Besides rain gear carry extra clothing or leave a change of clothes at the office so you can change into dry clothes after being in the rain. Considering how erratic the weather can be having this equipment on hand may also be useful. In the wet season, rain is a constant possibility throughout the day even on sunny days.
2. Have A Shower Right Away
Showering after being exposed to the cold can actually help regulate body temperature, even though this advice may seem contradictory. Once more when there is a significant temperature shift the majority of viruses that cause cough and colds find it easier to enter the body. After drying taking a shower aids in the body’s gradual return to normal temperature. It can also remove any bacteria that may have adhered to the skin.
3. Bolsters The Defences Of The Body
The immune system can be fortified in a variety of ways to aid in cold treatment. Consuming the recommended daily quantity of vitamin C can help lessen the duration and severity of a cold, which can make it easier to tolerate. A well-balanced diet with the right levels of vitamins and minerals may also be helpful. Drinking lots of water also helps the body flush out toxins and lessen congestion by thinning mucus and increasing hydration.
4. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly With Antibacterial Soap
Another strategy to prevent the flu is to practice good hand hygiene. As previously noted influenza-causing microbes fare better in colder climates. This makes them more likely to take off and remain in the air for extended periods before landing on surfaces. As a result, it’s advisable to properly wash your hands before touching your face. Hands can be cleansed of bacteria that may have originated from touching surfaces by washing them with antiseptic soap for at least 20 seconds. There are extra dangers associated with common water-borne infections like cholera, leptospirosis, and diarrhea during the rainy season. A person can greatly protect themselves by washing their hands and feet properly.
5. It Is Cold Outside Wear Warm Clothing
Clothing layering is another method to prevent the body from becoming cold besides packing rain gear when you go outside. Thermal clothes or polypropylene can prevent the body from releasing heat too quickly. To keep warm wear two layers of insulating clothing.
6. Try Engaging In Some Mild Exercise
It is advisable to get some exercise and sweat out any symptoms that may have appeared however make sure that a fever is not present. Exercise helps the body feel better by relieving congestion by opening up the nasal passages. If you cannot go outside, you can still be active at home.
Bottom Line
Although getting wet in the rain doesn’t spread the flu or cold virus getting chilled in the rain may make you more susceptible to contracting one of these infections. If you get cold and wet from rainy weather, it can lower your body temperature and immune response. People also spend more time indoors where viruses are more easily spread during rainy seasons. Wear breathable moisture-wicking clothing and a rain jacket if you’re going outside on a wet day to stay warm and dry.
