Long Story Short, Yes There Is Such a Thing as a Summer Cold

Anybody with kids knows there's ALWAYS something going around, and right now is no exception in Colorado. It's always weird when the weather gets warmer and we turn the page to summer, but everyone suddenly gets the dreaded "summer cold."

Is a summer cold any different than the "regular" cold you seem to get during the winter? Yes, and no, but not really - other than the time of year and how your body reacts to it.

While the common cold virus is more prevalent in the winter time, there's literally hundreds of different cold and flu-like viruses that circulate year around, each and every year, regardless of what the weather is like outside.

When they happen in the summer, their spread can be attributed more to things like more traveling, summer gatherings and especially here in Colorado, dry air that makes your nasal passages more vulnerable to attacks from these viruses.

READ MORE: Allergies Just Hit Harder in Colorado Than Anywhere Else

Especially if you spend most of your time inside air conditioning, that air is even dryer.

Lots of people who end up stuffed up or sneezing this time of year want to blame allergies, but the truth is oftentimes they don't suffer from allergies at all. Some of these viruses are quite mild, and while your body fights them off the rest of the year, it's not prepared for them in the dryer air.

As for treatment, it's the same as what you would do for a winter cold. Plenty of rest and sleep, drinking a lot of fluids to stay hydrated - or hot lemon and honey for a sore throat - plus allowing a steamy shower to get into your system all work wonders.

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Even though it seems like a cold is going around, the official "viral respiratory diseases" report doesn't show very much out there at the moment, likely because most cases are so mild that people aren't seeing doctors for them.

That said, don't let any co-workers who you share a microphone with every day tell you "it's just allergies." I'm talking to you, Dave Jensen.