The doctor dispelled the myth about the need to wear a hat in winter

Many people have heard that it is necessary to wear a hat in winter in order not to get colds, otitis media or meningitis. Anastasia Agayeva, a general practitioner at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia on December 19 whether this is really the case and why you really need to wear a hat during the cold weather.

"There is a widespread belief that if you do not wear a hat in winter, the risk of developing meningitis increases. However, this statement is incorrect. Meningitis is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the brain. The pathogens are meningococcus and some types of viruses. Transmission of the infection occurs by airborne droplets, for example, when communicating with an infected person," says the doctor.

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The development of flu and colds also occurs not because of the lack of a hat during the cold weather, but under the influence of viruses. The situation is similar with otitis media, an inflammatory ear disease.: its appearance is provoked by bacteria, viruses or fungi. In addition, otitis media can be a complication of other diseases, such as sore throats or sinusitis.

"Despite the fact that the above diseases are not directly related to wearing a headdress, this does not mean that you can avoid wearing it during cold weather — prolonged exposure to the street without a hat can lead to general hypothermia, frostbite of the scalp and ears," Agayeva warned.

She explained that with hypothermia, the body temperature can drop below 35 degrees. This negatively affects the body, for example, metabolic processes decrease, and the functioning of the cardiovascular system is disrupted. Frostbite causes damage to the skin or ears, which can even lead to tissue death.

It is worth noting that there are no strict guidelines for wearing a headdress. It is important to focus on your own comfort, as each person tolerates changes in ambient temperature differently.

In July, Stanislav Ionov, Professor of the Department of Therapy at the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education, named the causes of itching in the ears. He noted that it could be an inflammatory process, a fungal infection, or even otitis media. Itching can also be caused by an insect ingestion or an allergic reaction due to its bite.

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