'I'm an NHS GP – this is the biggest myth people believe about catching colds'

It's that time of year when people are catching all sorts of illnesses.

Some of the main things doing the rounds at the moment are coughs and colds. While we know to expect to sometimes feel a little under the weather as the winter months creep in, there are some myths about falling ill we actually believe.

One NHS GP has recently broken one of the biggest myths down in a bid to teach people to stop worrying. Doctor Shireen, known as @doctorshireen on TikTok, is known for sharing health advice online.

She recently revealed if people can actually catch a cold from being cold, and the answer may surprise you. Doctor Shireen admitted she thinks it's actually one of the "biggest myths" out there when it comes to medical advice.

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In a candid explainer video, she said: "This is not true. There is no medical evidence to suggest this, but there is a reason you are more prone to viruses when the weather is cold, and I'm going to go into that now.

"Firstly, when it's cold outside, you're more likely to congregate indoors. So, instead of going to see your friends in a park or sitting outside in a pub for example, people come to each other's houses.

"There is a lot more indoor mingling, and if Covid-19 taught us anything is social distancing is key at preventing viruses, and we actually lose social distancing when the weather is cold.

"The other key thing is there is some medical evidence out there that cold weather weakens our immune system so that means, when we are exposed to the viruses, we are much more likely to catch them."

So, even though there is a slight link between cold weather and becoming ill, the weather doesn't make us sick itself. A cold has to come from a virus, so there's no need to wrap up unless you really want to, according to the GP.

The video has been liked dozens of times since it was shared, and people were quick to respond too. Many think it's something that needs to be drilled into the older generation.

One person said: "Thank you for sharing. I am always telling my daughter to wrap up warm otherwise she will catch a cold. Mind you, when she was at uni, she sometimes went out wearing damp clothes."

Another didn't agree though, adding: "Being too cold makes you more prone to illness though, so it's not really untrue." A third also replied: "Strange that I have experienced the exact opposite."