Why cold doesn’t give you a cold 著涼感冒 無關穿多穿少

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. catch a cold phr. 感冒
2. misconception n. 誤解
3. feel a chill n. 發冷
4. pathogen n. 病原
5. sneeze v. 打噴嚏

People often attribute catching a cold to being exposed to cold temperatures, believing that staying warm can prevent illness. The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC), however, says there is no scientific basis for this belief.

CDC deputy director-general Philip Lo says this common misconception may be due to the fact that cold sufferers can develop symptoms like feeling chills and shaking, as well as the increase in numbers of cold sufferers in the winter.

According to Lo, a US study divided people into two groups, with one asked to stay in a cold storage room kept at 4 degrees Celsius, and the other in a hot spring. The study found the risks of catching a cold were about the same for both groups, and concluded that changes in temperature are not directly linked to the chances of catching a cold.

Lo says the key factor that leads to colds is the amount of pathogens present. The reason there are more cold sufferers when temperature drops, he said, is that viruses live longer, and are more contagious, in colder weather.

The government is offering free flu vaccines and is urging people eligible for the free service to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Members of the public who develop symptoms such as fever and coughing, which may indicate flu, are advised to wear a mask when going out, or to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing, to prevent the virus from spreading.

(Liberty Times, translated by Tu Yu-an)

不少民眾將感冒原因與「著涼」劃上等號，認為做好保暖就可以遠離感冒，但衛福部疾管署澄清，這種說法並無醫學根據。

疾管署副署長羅一鈞表示，由於感冒發燒可能會出現發冷、打冷顫等症狀，加上冬季感冒病例較多，可能造成許多民眾誤解感冒與氣溫有關。

羅一鈞說，曾有一項美國研究，將受測者分成兩批，一批待在攝氏四度的冰櫃中，另一批則是泡溫泉，觀察一段時間後，發現低溫組與高溫組罹患感冒的風險並無顯著差異，顯示溫度變化與感冒沒有關係。羅一鈞解釋，氣溫下降感冒病例會變多，是因為偏冷環境下病毒存活較久，且傳播能力較強，因此染病關鍵在於有無病原。

目前公費流感疫苗已開放施打，疾管署呼籲，符合資格的民眾最好儘速接種。

若有發燒、咳嗽等類流感症狀，應及早就醫，並於外出時戴上口罩，或在咳嗽或打噴嚏時以手帕或衣袖捂住口鼻，以避免病毒傳播。

（自由時報記者林惠琴）

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Study: Vitamin D could prevent common cold 研究：維生素D可預防感冒

A study announced on Feb. 16 indicates that taking Vitamin D supplements can prevent respiratory tract infections such as colds and influenza, reigniting the debate on the effectiveness of non-prescription dietary supplements.

The study, in the British medical publication BMJ, claims to have discovered, for the first time, “clear evidence” of a link between Vitamin D and influenza, after evaluating the different results from a total of 25 clinical trials in 14 countries.

This is especially apparent for people suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D can be absorbed through a number of foods. The human body is also able to synthesize Vitamin D endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight make contact with the skin.

Many people have Vitamin D deficiency, especially residents of areas of climates of low levels of sunlight.

For many years, scientific studies have come up with mixed conclusions about Vitamin D, with some finding that low levels of Vitamin D can increase the risk of bone fracture, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and death. Other studies, however, showed that it was impossible to prove a link between Vitamin D and risk of disease.

(CNA, translated by Paul Cooper)

二月十六日公布的研究指出，攝取維生素D補給品可預防感冒、流感等呼吸道感染，再度掀起了非處方營養補給品是否有效的論辯。

刊登在英國醫學期刊的研究宣稱，評估十四個國家共二十五份不同的臨床試驗後，「首度發現 」維生素D和流感相關的「明確證據」。

這對維生素D含量不足的人影響特別明顯。維生素D可透過一些食物攝取，皮膚接觸到紫外線時，人體也會自行合成。

許多人維生素D含量不足，特別是灰暗陰霾氣候區的居民。

科學研究多年來對維生素D結論不一，有些結論認為維生素D偏低會增加骨折、心臟疾病、大腸直腸癌、糖尿病、憂鬱症、阿茲海默症和死亡風險，但也有研究顯示，無法證明維生素D和疾病風險有關。

（中央社）

True or False 是非題

A) For some time, sporadic studies have demonstrated evidence of a link between Vitamin D and certain diseases.

TODAY’S WORDS 今日單字

1. clinical adj. 臨床 

2. deficiency n.含量不足 

3. diabetes n.糖尿病

4. depression n. 憂鬱症

B) The recent BMJ study has shown for the first time clear evidence of a link between Vitamin D and diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

C) As a result of this study, the medical establishment now believes that dietary supplements can cure the common cold.

D) Vitamin D can be found in some foods, but can also be produced by the human body.

Answers: A) T, B) F, C) F, D) T

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“No proof” vitamin D stops colds 維他命D擋感冒「沒有證據

Scientists say they can find no convincing evidence to show that taking vitamin D supplements will fend off a cold. The 161 people who took daily vitamin D for 18 months caught as many colds as the 161 who took fake pills.

The study was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
But a leading UK cold expert said vitamin D was useful. Prof Ronald Eccles, of the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University, said it can give the immune system a much-needed boost during winter when vitamin D reserves may be low.

He said echinacea supplements may also help ward off coughs and colds, but added, “Supplements do not work for everybody because people’s immune systems are different. It’s not a case of one size fits all.”

(Liberty Times)

科學家說，他們未能發現具說服力的證據，顯示吃維他命補充品可對抗感冒。一百六十一名每天吃維他命D連吃十八個月的人，與吃安慰劑的一百六十一人感冒機率相同。
這項研究發表在《美國醫學協會期刊》。
但英國知名感冒專家說，維他命D很有用。卡地夫大學感冒中心主任愛爾柯斯教授說，維他命D能在冬季給予免疫系統非常需要的幫助。
他說，紫錐菊補充劑或許也能對抗咳嗽與感冒，但「補充劑不是對每個人都有效，因為免疫系統因人而異，並非一體適用。」
（自由時報／翻譯：自由時報國際新聞中心）

TODAY’S WORDS 今日單字

1. convincing adj.
具說服力的 (ju4 shui4 fu2 li4 de5)
例: I didn’t find the ending of the film very convincing.
(我不覺得這部電影的結局非常有說服力。)
2. fend off v. phr.
對付 (dui4 fu4))
例: Somehow she managed to fend off the awkward questions.
(她不知怎麼地設法應付了奇怪的問題。)
3. one size fits all
idiom 一體適用 (yi4 ti3 shi4 yong4)
例: He advocates a one-size-fits-all approach to education.
(他提倡教育一體適用的方法。)

Tara Stiles: Treat Colds - 

► 2:37► 2:37

Regular yoga practice reduces sickness, but if you do get a cold follow this quick routine from yoga expert Tara Stiles to treat your symptoms. 

 Yoga for Colds | YOGAmazing Episodes ... - Blip

► 26:53► 26:53

Episode 198 - Yoga for Colds 

                                                    (more advanced practice)