Most parents believe wet hair can cause a cold — they’re wrong – National | Globalnews.ca
January 22, 2019 7:00 am Most parents believe wet hair can cause a cold — they’re wrong By Arti Patel Senior National Online Journalist, Smart Living Global News
Cold myths debunked: Here are 3 common cold myths that parents still rely on Listen
Going outside with wet hair will not lead to a cold.
It’s a belief passed on by generation after generation, and although experts say it’s not backed by science, a new poll suggests many of us still believe it.
READ MORE: Calgary man who nearly died from flu urges others to get immunized
“For example, 52 per cent of parents reported that they tell their child not to go outside with wet hair, while 48 per cent said they encourage their child to spend more time indoors to avoid catching a cold. In contrast, 23 per cent of parents said they encourage their child to spend more time outdoors to prevent colds,” authors wrote in a statement.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, a clinical researcher at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute , told Global News it’s hard to pinpoint why people still believe these myths.
“A lot of these beliefs started well before germ theory,” he said. “Some of these myths and quirks just get passed down from generation to generation but it’s hard to know why. Simply being cold doesn’t mean you’re going to get a cold.” The poll in detail
The poll also found half of parents believed giving their child over-the-counter products, like vitamins or supplements, can prevent colds.
“These products generally have no or limited evidence of effectiveness in preventing colds,” authors continued. “The most common product that parents gave their child in the past year for cold prevention was vitamin C. Around 25 per cent of parents had tried giving their child products advertised to boost their immune system.”
But the poll also uncovered some good news: 99 per cent of parents encouraged personal hygiene like washing hands. Parents also told their children to avoid others who were sick and to clean shared toys. Getting through cold season
Bogoch stressed that colds have nothing to do with the weather. Instead, colds are viruses that circulate. “They can cause nuisance symptoms like low-grade fever, sneezing, coughing, runny noses, and people generally feeling crummy until it passes.”
Colds can be more prevalent in colder months because people typically are more clustered together.
“Preventing the cold can be challenging [in colder months], but good hygiene is key,” he said, adding viruses can live on surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and elevator buttons. Tips for parents
Besides encouraging children to wash their hands, parents should also know there isn’t a way to fully prevent the cold.
“The vast majority of these infections are self-limited and most of the time it will be over in a few days,” Bogoch said. “There is no silver bullet… there is nothing you can do to shorten the duration.”
READ MORE: Cold vs. flu — What do you have and what should you do?
Authors who conducted the research said parents should also teach children not to put their hands near their nose or mouth, and avoid sharing utensils or drinks with others.
Bogoch said always monitor how your children feel. If colds are consistent or last for a long period of time (even with off-the-counter products), speak with your health-care provider.
arti.patel@globalnews.ca Get daily local headlines and alerts © 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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