Local doctor says connection between rainy weather and illness is a “myth”

Getting sick in the winter time is often associated with cold or rainy conditions on the Central Coast.

Some medical professionals, however, are saying the connection between rain and sickness is simply a myth.

They say much of any damage that can be done when those raindrops start falling is through physical injury from a number of weather-related hazards, but not so much illness.

“It’s a long-held belief. So many people feel this way because they see rain and they see family members get sick so they see a relationship,” says Dr. Scott Prysi with Salinas Urgent Care. “The only relationship is rain sending people indoors with other people who are sick.”

Dr. Prysi adds people are built to be able to handle the rain pretty well unless they have specific medical conditions which ail them.

Rain does present some issues to a person’s physical environment which can prove harmful to certain patients.

Especially those using at-home medical equipment for health monitoring purposes.

“We have people living at home with certain machines like nebulizer machines for those with asthma or respirators or oxygen machines,” Dr. Prysi says. “Those can go down if the power goes out, so they would have to go to the ER instead.”

In extreme cases some respiratory problems can come up if people are exposed to mold as a result of flooded homes and so on, as well.

But as far as rainy weather and illness directly? Dr. Prysi says it’s all just a myth.

“The rain, itself, is not really a driver of disease.”

This isn’t to make light of this flu season, which has a death toll in record numbers in some places.

“We’re really worried about our patients over 65 and those under the age of 5. Those are the ones we’re really concerned about,” says Dr. Prysi.

Overall if you want to stay healthy this winter season you should wash your hands frequently, keep yourself at a distance from those who are sick already and try to balance a healthy diet in your meals to keep your immune system at its peak.