One Solid Reason to Explain Why Winter is Better than Summer… for Your Health

Summary

The article argues that winter is healthier than summer for city dwellers due to the reduced risk of catching a cold from temperature fluctuations between the outdoors and air-conditioned buildings.

Abstract

The author presents a perspective on why winter may be more beneficial for health compared to summer, particularly in urban environments. The article emphasizes the challenges of living in cities that experience extreme heat, such as the constant exposure to air conditioning that can lead to catching a cold. In contrast, winter requires layering up, which can be easily managed by removing clothing layers when indoors. The author acknowledges the inconveniences of winter, such as dry skin, but suggests these are more manageable than the discomforts of summer. The article invites readers to reconsider their preference for summer or tropical cities over winter or subarctic cities based on health implications.

Opinions

The author believes that the immediate gratification of standing next to an air conditioner or fan in summer can lead to health issues like catching a cold.
Entering and exiting buildings in hot cities often results in a drastic temperature change, which is seen as a health risk.
The author suggests that the inconvenience of wearing thermals in winter is preferable to dealing with sweat and the need to change clothes in summer.
The article posits that the dry skin resulting from winter weather is easier to manage than the constant moisture and need for towel and shirt changes in summer.
While acknowledging that both extreme heat and cold are det

I mean, all other factors being equal

Look, everyone’s got preferences — you might prefer to wear thongs (both varieties, I guess) all year long while the person next to you would prefer to be bundled up in seven layers holding a cup of hot cocoa, you might prefer to have fruit and ice cream because of the weather while the person next to you would prefer an excuse to have heartier meals because of the weather, you might prefer spending time baking at the beach while the person next to you would prefer to chill (perhaps literally) in a forest of snow-lined pines. You get the idea.

However, let’s take a closer look specifically at city life. Not suburban life, not country life, both of which are wholly different animals from the urban jungle.

I’m not talking about something as commercial as a Christmas atmosphere or the availability of ski resorts nearby. I’m talking about staying not warm or cool but dry and at an appropriate temperature.

If you’ve lived in a city that gets hot and stays hot nearly year-round (I’ve got a long list of the usual suspects, but I think it’s more fun for you to fill in the blanks yourselves), you know what it’s like, especially during summer. If you’ve never lived in a city that gets hot, well, before I get into it, let’s establish a baseline.

A city has buildings. Lots of buildings. If you live in a city, you enter and exit them all the time. If you live in a city that gets hot, many of these buildings have air conditioners that are set to arctic if you’re lucky (or unlucky). Some cities might have their air conditioners set merely to freezing.

During summer in a sweltering urban jungle, I’m sure you’ve been tempted to stand next to or under an air conditioner or at least a fan that’s on full blast. It’s a great way to catch a cold.

Even if you don’t exemplify the modern practice of going for immediate gratification, there’s no way you can avoid the onslaught of cold air once you enter a shopping mall in a city like Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Singapore (sorry for taking the fun away from you) during summer. If you came from outside, you’re most likely soaked already. It’s a great way to catch a cold.

In a city like Moscow or Montreal during winter, every time you walk into a building is like walking into a furnace. Then you just remove some layers. It’s all good.

Yes, there are drawbacks as well. I’ve personally experienced them. When you live in a city that gets infamously cold, one effective way to keep warm is to wear a thermal as your innermost layer, which is, of course, inconvenient to remove in polite company. When that happened to me, I just took a trip to the toilet.

Your skin can also get rather dry. Well, carry travel-size face cream, hand lotion, and lip balm.

Yes, this may sound inconvenient, but it’s better than carrying a towel to dry off and an extra shirt to change into, right?

Of course, both options are bad for the health of the planet, but we’re talking about your health at the moment. Also, of course, this is applicable to cities that get unbearably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter.

So there you have it. Still think summer is better than winter or a (sub)tropical city is more inhabitable than a (sub)arctic one? I’m all ears.

Dash Ip grew up in Southern California, so maybe it’s strange he prefers winters to summers. Or at least he thinks he does.