- VIVA/M Ali Wafa
VIVA – The territory of Indonesia has two types of seasons, namely the rainy season and the dry season. In this rainy season, it is usually believed to be one of the factors people can get sick.
According to data from the Ministry of RI's health crisis center, the rainy season has a connection with several diseases such as flu, cough, influenza, diarrhea, dengue fever, and other.
Pain can happen at any time. However, during the rainy season, the body tends to be sick. Well, here’s the reason why someone can get sick easily during the rainy season.
1. Virus Lives Longer in Humid and Cold Temperatures
Ilustrasi sakit/demam.
- Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America in 2015, mice exposed to lower temperatures experienced a decreased immune response to the virus.
One of these is the rhinovirus, a type of virus that causes the flu, which can replicate more efficiently at temperatures lower than 37°C, such as the average core body temperature in humans.
While the temperature inside the nasal cavity is around 33°C which can make it an ideal breeding ground for rhinoviruses. In addition to rhinoviruses, more than 150 viruses are circulating at any given time, such as the rainy season, which can cause fever and cough.
For example, the influenza virus that causes the flu can also survive and spread more easily in cold air. Research shows that the ideal temperature for the spread of the influenza virus is 5°C.
2. More Sensitive Body
Ilustrasi sakit maag/sakit perut.
- Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
During the rainy season, there are extreme temperature changes. The human body is very sensitive to changes in temperature, especially at the change of seasons.
Primary Care Doctor of Northwestern Medicine, Winston, dr. D. Rajendram also said that viruses thrive in low-temperature environments.
In addition, during the rainy season, the air temperature is relatively cold. When cold air enters the nose, the body becomes ineffective against viruses so that viruses such as the common cold, flu, and even Covid-19 are more easily spread in the rainy season.
During the rainy season, sunlight also rarely appears. Finally, the sun exposure that hits our bodies is reduced. Sunlight is also needed for the manufacture of vitamin D. So, the body's immune system works effectively.
3. Minimal Physical Activity
ilustrasi sakit leher
Usually, cold and cloudy weather makes people lazy to do physical activity. Regular physical activity is significant for body health. Based on data from the US National Library of Medicine, being active can help remove disease-causing bacteria from the lungs. It can lower the risk of developing diseases related to the air and respiratory system.
An unhealthy lifestyle causes the body to become less healthy and susceptible to disease, especially during the rainy season.
