Why Do Viruses Thrive in the Winters?

Before you look for winter health tips, you should figure out what bothers you the most in the cold. When it comes to winter illnesses, infectious diseases caused by viruses are the most common. 

Here, I’ll explain how viruses react in the winter and how our body responds to them. 

In simple words, the question is why our body gets cold, sneezing, cough and so many illnesses during winters? Why are we more susceptible to illness during the winter? All these questions have the same answer, but before knowing it lets know some basic things about a virus. 

What Is a virus?  

A submicroscopic agent causing infections is known as a virus. The virus replicates itself with the help of living cells. All life forms can be infected with the virus. A virus can have a DNA or RNA genome, in most cases, viruses have an RNA genome. There are two components of a virus, the genetic material (can be DNA or RNA) and the protective protein coat known as a capsid.  

✦Types Of Viruses  

Viruses are classified according to their shapes and these four shapes are helical, polyhedral, spherical, and complex. Don’t confuse it with viruses like coronavirus, influenza virus, Ebola, etc., they all come under the four shapes-based categories or types of viruses. For an instance, Coronavirus comes under the spherical virus category. 

Some lesser-known facts about viruses 

      ✦A virus is not alive. It is a parasite that needs a host cell to replicate.

      ✦Viruses have a coat of protein, lipid (fat), glycoprotein, etc.  

      ✦Antibiotics are not that effective on all viruses.  

      ✦Viroids are pathogens of viruses and they only have a DNA or RNA genome rather than having a capsid covering it.  

      ✦The word “virus” came from a Latin word that means poison.  

      ✦Mimivirus is the biggest virus.  

       ✦Circovirus is the smallest virus. 

Why Do Viruses Spread More in Winters?

Following are some reasons why viruses spread faster in winters as compared to summers.  

✧Strong Outer Layer  

Virus membranes are made up of fats, cholesterol, wax, and other components, and studies have shown that at low temperatures, the outer layer of viruses solidifies, making them resistant to vaccines and antiviral drugs. 

✧Cool Nasal Passage  

In winter cold air cools down our nasal passage, but what it has to do with a virus? Mucus produced in our nasal passages acts as a defense mechanism to keep viruses out of our bodies. Due to slow mucus clearance in the winter, the virus enters the body forcefully. 

✧Less Exposure to UV Rays  

UV rays produce Vitamin D in our bodies with the help of 7-DHC (a protein); thus, UV rays play an important role in virus killing and prevention. UV rays have been shown to kill viruses by damaging molecules such as nucleic acid, according to studies. It is ubiquitous that UV rays’ level is lower in winters as compared to summers. 

✧Vitamin D Deficiency  

It is true that a lack of Vitamin D can cause a cold and sneezing, but laboratory studies suggest that there is more to it. Antimicrobial molecules prevent the spread of microorganisms, and Vitamin D helps in making one of them; so, deficiency of it allows viruses to spread fast. 

✧Drop In Humidity  

Cold air cannot hold enough moisture, resulting in a drop in humidity, and dry air extends the life of viruses in the air, resulting in more infections. 

✧Lack Of Ventilation   

During the winter, the ventilation system, whether natural or artificial, is ineffective. Due to cold weather, we close windows, don’t turn on fans, which makes ventilation less effective. According to an IIT Bombay study, air recirculation zones or dead zones are created when there is insufficient ventilation, and viruses stay longer in such zones. 

✧Enclosed Spaces  

It is also one of the reasons for the rapid spread of viruses when two or more people are in the same enclosed space, and in the winter, we avoid going outside and prefer to stay indoors. A research article named Aerodynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in two Wuhan hospitals validate this point. 

HOCl As a Solution 

Knowing all these reasons might scare you, a solution is always there. Concluding all these points, you might think it is a lot of work to tackle all these problems, but HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) can do it solely. Following are some benefits of HOCl that shows how it helps you tackle all problems:  

Moisturizes Skin 

HOCl is comprised of just three components water, salt, and electricity. As an electrolyzed water it moisturizes skin and also pours more oxygen to skin cells.  

Increase Humidity 

Humidity can be increased when HOCl is used in air purification, humidifiers, etc., studies were conducted on the usage of HOCl for air purification. 

Kills Viruses Everywhere 

From hands to daily use items, viruses are never tolerated by HOCl. Giving a handy solution to improper ventilation, HOCl can kill germs everywhere, such as:  

➢Dead Zones 

➢Enclosed Spaces 

➢All Materials  

Safe For All 

➢Edible Items 

It can be used on edible items, an experiment showed results that HOCl can even be used as a mouth washing agent.  

➢Skin & Eyes 

The study implies that it helped in the reduction of bacterial load even on Ocular skin, which means it is safe for sensitive skin and eyes.   

Winter is like a friend to viruses, hence you need a companion as well, to ensure your safety; so, make precautionary measures your companion. Follow appropriate measures, such as sanitizing hands, developing good hygiene habits, wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and so on. 

Pankaj Rai. 

References:

1. Types of viruses https://hmsc.harvard.edu/world-viruses 

2. Cold air slows down mucus clearance in nasal passage. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11936911/ 

3. Antibiotics do not work on viruses https://www.cdc.gov/patientsafety/features/be-antibiotics-aware.html  

4. UV rays can kill viruses – https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(20)30756-2/fulltext#seccesectitle0001  

5. How Vitamin D deficiency cause fast transmission of viruses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198734/ 

6. Air purification by HOCl – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2199747/ 

7. Study showing HOCl is safe even as a mouth wash agent – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21109231/  

8. 7-Dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Dehydrocholesterol  

9. Role of humidity in inactivation of viruses https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/aem.02674-09  

10. IIT Bombay study about dead zones https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0064337  

11. Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 Transmission https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/sars-cov-2-transmission.html  

12. Aerodynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in two Wuhan hospitals https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2271-3  

13. HOCl – A Review – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7315945/ 

14. Study showing HOCl is safe even for Ocular skin – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28458509/