The recent string of cold weather caused furnaces across the state to run overtime, and the cold could also be causing many noses to run too. Iowa Department of Public Health medical director, Patricia Quinlisk, says the cold weather has had an impact on people’s health.
Quinlisk says the cold cause the humidity in the air to go way down, and that causes the mucus membranes in our nose and throat to get chapped, just like your hands get chapped. Quinlisk says those chapped membranes lead to illness as it makes the membranes more susceptible to viruses that cause infections.
"So actually when it gets this cold you’re a little bit more susceptible to having the cold or the flu make you ill," Quinlisk says. State health officials report a steady and slowly increasing number of reported flu cases, but say so far the flu strains in Iowa are a good match to this year’s flu vaccine.
So Quinklish is encouraging Iowans to get a flu shot. In addition to vaccination, you should wash your hands frequently, stay home from work or school when you are ill with the flu, and try to stay away from people you know are ill.