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4. You're More Likely to Catch a Cold on an Airplane
The dry, recirculated air swirling around an airplane cabin is less than ideal, but that doesn’t mean you’re destined to develop a cold by the time you land. Studies have tried to unveil this link between air travel and sickness that’s so widely upheld, but the truth is, you’re no more likely to develop a cold in an airplane than you are in your normal work environment.
Whether the air is fresh or recirculated doesn’t seem to matter either, as a 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association attests. In the end, about 20 percent of passengers developed a cold after their flight, regardless of the type of air they were exposed to. While it’s difficult to completely protect against cold viruses on a plane, rest assured that your risk of contracting one is lower than you might think.
Resources
The Washington Post (Five myths about the common cold)Huffington Post (New Video Busts 4 Common Myths About Catching Cold in Cold Weather)Parents.com (12 Cold and Flu Myths)
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