Fall, with its flamboyant colors and cooler temperatures, is a season many love. But it’s also a time when illnesses seem to increase: colds, flu, and other respiratory infections are more common. It’s common to wonder why we get sick more often at this time of year. While several factors are at play, there are environmental, behavioral, and biological causes that explain this trend.
Temperature changes and their impact on our body
One of the main reasons we get sick more often in the fall has to do with temperature fluctuations. As summer ends and temperatures begin to drop, our bodies need to adjust. This transition process can temporarily weaken our immune system, making it more susceptible to infections. For example, going from a warm environment to a cold one or vice versa can stress the body. This sudden change in temperature can also affect the lining of our noses, making it harder for them to filter viruses before they enter our airways.
Proximity and spread of viruses
Fall also marks the return to indoor activities. After summer, when we spent more time outdoors, we find ourselves frequenting closed spaces: schools, offices, public transport, shopping centres. This return indoors encourages proximity and increases the chances of virus transmission. The viruses responsible for colds and flu, in particular, spread more easily in closed environments where air circulates less and where individuals are in close contact.
The impact of seasonal habits
With the arrival of autumn, our habits change, and some of these changes also contribute to a greater susceptibility to diseases. For example, the return to school and work brings groups of people from different regions into contact, which promotes the spread of viruses that were not present in other geographical areas. In addition, the stress of returning to work or school can weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections.
Our eating habits can also change at this time. After summer, which is often synonymous with light meals rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, fall sometimes leads us to consume heavier foods, less rich in essential nutrients, which can affect our overall health.
Less natural light and its effect on the immune system
In the fall, the days get shorter and we get less natural light. This decrease in brightness has direct consequences on our body, particularly on the production of vitamin D. This vitamin, which plays an essential role in the proper functioning of the immune system, is mainly synthesized by our skin during exposure to the sun. When we spend less time outside and the intensity of UV rays decreases, our production of vitamin D drops, making our immune system less efficient.
It is also strongly recommended to take a vitamin D3 supplement all year round, especially during the colder and less sunny seasons.
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Fall is a time of transition, both for nature and for our bodies. Changes in temperature, lack of natural light, the resumption of indoor activities and increased proximity are all factors that contribute to the increase in illnesses. It is therefore important to pay special attention to our health at this time of year, by adopting habits that strengthen our immune system: a balanced diet, regular exposure to daylight, good stress management and taking supplements adapted to our needs.
By better understanding why we get sick more often in the fall, we can put strategies in place to get through this season in top shape.
Sources
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) : The impact of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system
- Harvard Health Publishing : Why We Get Sick in Winter: The Science Behind Viruses
- Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) : The effects of temperature change on health
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety : Indoor air quality and virus transmission
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) : Seasonal variability in immune function and disease susceptibility
- Journal of Infection : Humidity and respiratory virus survival