Ask HN: Is walking in the rain bad for your health? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Is walking in the rain bad for your health?

5 pointsTicklishTiger6 comments

This is a type of question, I wish the internet could answer. But it does not.

Everytime I walk in the rain (with a coat, so I don't get much wet) I am afraid that I will get sick.

Is there something to this?

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Actually "the internet" can answer:

https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/ne3nym/we-asked-an-expe...

>But really, rain isn't the reason anyone gets sick. A weak immune system is.

>"Cold temperatures weaken the immune system," Mahesa told VICE. "Plus, rainwater hits the ground and elevates bacteria and viruses from the ground up into the air. So people will be exposed to them during rain which might cause them to fall ill."

I read this as a "Yes".

    But really, rain isn't the reason anyone
    gets sick. A weak immune system is.

That is like saying "Guns don't kill people. Not wearing bullet proof vests does."

Well, the actual relevant part is the rainwater that, hitting the ground, sprays bacteria and viruses into the air (according to "that expert" from "the internet") .

"Another expert" (also from "the internet") believes that it is actually good for your (mental) health:

https://www.ianbanyard.com/home/the-benefits-of-walking-in-t...

But not if you are the wicked witch of the West:

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-healthy-to-walk-under-rain?

When it rains I think the air quality improves so you breathe in a humid and clean air instead of a dry dirty air.

Is there anything about this on the internet that supports this thesis? Any studies?

>Is there anything about this on the internet that supports this thesis? Any studies?

Not exactly, but near enough:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120305-youll-catch-a-cold-...

http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/6/608.short

>Conclusion. Acute chilling of the feet causes the onset of common cold symptoms in around 10% of subjects who are chilled. Further studies are needed to determine the relationship of symptom generation to any respiratory infection.

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