Dr. Andrew Huberman: AMA #13: Winter Months and Sickness, Wim Hof Breathing and Stressors

The video is about the winter months and how they affect colds and flu. Dr. Andrew Huberman explains that research shows that there is a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months, which is likely due to shorter days, colder temperatures, and people spending more time indoors. The speaker also discusses the relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission, and how being closer to someone who is sneezing or coughing can increase the probability of contracting a cold or flu.

This video by Andrew Huberman was published on Nov 30, 2023.
Video length: 24:18.

The video is about the winter months and how they affect colds and flu.

The speaker explains that research shows that there is a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months, which is likely due to shorter days and colder temperatures. The speaker also mentions that people spend more time indoors during the winter, which can increase the risk of transmission.

The speaker discusses studies that have shown a relationship between physical distance and the transmission of colds and flu, and mentions that the closer you are to someone who is sneezing or coughing, the higher the probability of contracting a cold or flu.

• The video is from Andrew Huberman's YouTube channel.
• The video is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode.
• The video is part of the premium subscriber channel of the Huberman Lab podcast.
• The premium subscriber channel provides support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast.
• The premium subscriber channel also generates support for exciting research being done at Stanford and elsewhere.
• Research shows that there is a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months.
• The shorter days in winter months correlate with colder temperatures.
• Studies have shown a relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission.
• Being closer to someone who is sneezing or coughing increases the probability of contracting a cold or flu.

AMA #13: Winter Months & Sickness, Wim Hof Breathing & Stressors - YouTube

Section 1: Introduction

• The video is from Andrew Huberman's YouTube channel.
• The video is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode.
• The video is part of the premium subscriber channel of the Huberman Lab podcast.
• The premium subscriber channel provides support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast.
• The premium subscriber channel also generates support for exciting research being done at Stanford and elsewhere.

Section 2: Colds and Flu in Winter Months

• Research shows that there is a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months.
• The shorter days in winter months correlate with colder temperatures.
• People spend more time indoors in the winter months, which raises questions about proximity and cold and flu transmission.
• Studies have shown a relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission.
• Being closer to someone who is sneezing or coughing increases the probability of contracting a cold or flu.

Section 3: Cold and Flu Transmission

• Physical distance is a key variable in terms of transmission of cold and flu.
• Studies have shown that people who are closer to someone who is sneezing or coughing have a higher probability of contracting a cold or flu.
• The closer you are to someone who is sneezing or coughing, the higher the probability of contracting a cold or flu.
• The relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission has been explored in peer-reviewed research.
• Studies have shown that people who come into a laboratory and are sneezing or coughing have a higher probability of transmitting a cold or flu to others.

AMA #13: Winter Months & Sickness, Wim Hof Breathing & Stressors - YouTube

Section 4: Conclusion

• The video discusses the relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission.
• The closer you are to someone who is sneezing or coughing, the higher the probability of contracting a cold or flu.
• The relationship between physical distance and cold and flu transmission has been explored in peer-reviewed research.
• The video provides information on the greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months.
• The video discusses the importance of shorter days and colder temperatures in the winter months.

Section 1: Winter Months and Cold/Flu Prevalence

• The video discusses the increased prevalence of colds and flu during the winter months.
• This is likely due to shorter days, colder temperatures, and people spending more time indoors.
• The speaker also mentions that research shows a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months.

Section 2: Physical Distance and Cold/Flu Transmission

• The video discusses the relationship between physical proximity and cold/flu transmission.
• The closer the proximity, the more likely that someone will contract the cold/flu from that person.
• Exchange of skin contact or saliva also increases the transmission of cold/flu.

Section 3: Hand Contact and Cold/Flu Transmission

• The video mentions that hand contact can also transmit cold/flu.
• Anything like exchange of skin contact or exchange of saliva can increase the transmission of cold/flu.

Section 4: Heating and Cold/Flu Transmission

• The video discusses the relationship between heating and cold/flu transmission.
• Indoors heating tends to be drier, which can dry out the nasal and oral passages.
• This can increase the transmission of cold/flu, as the nasal passages are a primary site of defense for viral infections.

Section 1: Breathing Through the Nose

• Breathing through the nose is best for most people except under certain conditions.
• The nasal passages contain physical barriers that trap incoming viruses, fungal infections, and bacterial infections.
• The mucus in the nasal passages also serves as a barrier against infection.
• The microbiome in the nasal passages thrives and protects against many incoming infections.
• Keeping the mucosal lining of the nasal passages healthy and intact is important for protection against infections.

Section 2: Humidifying the Air

• Humidifying the air can help prevent colds and flu from transmitting in indoor environments.
• Humidifying the air can also keep the nasal passages and respiratory pathways healthy and resistant to infections.
• Humidifying the air can help offset colds and flu that are brought home from work or other environments.
• Humidifying the air can also help alleviate symptoms of sickness when not sleeping well or being deprived of sleep.

Section 3: Cold and Flu Transmission

• Some strains of the colder flu can be more mild than others, and the severity of sickness can depend on factors such as sleep deprivation and air humidity.
• Nasal breathing is important for encouraging the overall health and resistance of the respiratory pathways to incoming colds and flu and other types of viruses.
• Humidifying the air, especially at night and during the day in indoor environments, can also help ward off colds and flu.

Section 4: Nasal vs. Mouth Breathing

• People who breathe through their nose tend to get fewer colds and flu, while those who breathe through their mouth more tend to get more colds and flu.

Double Dissociation

• Double dissociation refers to the relationship between mouth breathing and colds and flu.
• Mouth breathers are more susceptible to colds and flu and other respiratory illnesses.
• Nasal breathing is better for health, aesthetically, and dental health.
• Oral breathing is related to a significantly higher prevalence of allergies and a higher likelihood of getting sick.
• Paying attention to whether or not someone is indoors with people who are coughing and sneezing is relevant.

Indoor Environment

• Studies have shown that transmission of colds and flu is higher in indoor environments.
• Sneezing and coughing in indoor environments can increase the probability of getting sick.
• Sneezing into one's elbow or coughing into one's elbow is probably the next best thing to not covering up at all.
• Exercising outdoors during the winter months is still important, but being aware of drying out air passages is necessary.
• Taking a hot shower, using a steam room or humidifier, and rehydrating nasal and oral passages can help prevent colds and flu.

Core Body Temperature

• There is a relationship between core body temperature and susceptibility to cold and flu.
• Fevers that are the response to exposure to a colder flu or being full-blown sick with a cold and flu are an attempt of the immune system to heat up the virus and destroy it.
• Highly elevated body temperatures, or fever, can be dangerous and dous to the brain and body.
• Knowing the dangers of highly elevated body temperatures is important when considering taking any kind of medication to lower one's fever.

Section 1: Winter Months and Sickness

• There is a greater prevalence of colds and flu in the winter months.
• This is likely due to shorter days, colder temperatures, and people spending more time indoors.
• Physical distance can also affect the transmission of colds and flu.
• Being closer to someone who is sneezing or coughing can increase the probability of contracting a cold or flu.
• Fever is an adaptation designed to destroy viruses, but blunting it can allow a colder virus to proliferate more readily.

Section 2: Cold Exposure and Breathing

• Deliberate cold exposure and cyclic hyperventilation breathing can be used to offset or prevent infection due to bacteria or viruses.
• However, if you are already coming down with a bacterial or viral infection, cyclic hyperventilation breathing or deliberate cold exposure may be the worst thing.
• There are a bunch of other things that can be done to protect yourself against colds and flu.
• The full length episode on colds and flu and how to avoid getting them will explore these tools in more detail.
• The hubman lab podcast premium channel offers information to your burning questions in depth and allows you to support the kind of research that provides those kinds of answers.

Watch the video on YouTube:
AMA #13: Winter Months & Sickness, Wim Hof Breathing & Stressors - YouTube