Question 1

could leaving the window open during the winter make someone sick?

Accepted Answer

No it can not: Dating back many years has been the myth of catching a chill.  Most infections are viral or bacterial and can be spread by touching/contact or by airborne routes.  Exposure to air from an open window will not make you ill.

Question 2

does leaving the window open affect whether i throw off a cold or not? on day one, i felt slightly sick like i was coming down with something. but after getting a good night's sleep, i felt better on day two. however, that night i left the window open and

Accepted Answer

Thats : Thats very difficult to determine. The cold air does not cause a cold, usually a common virus does that. However the cold air from thew window  may have weakened your immune system, which left you ill equipped to fight off the looming cold; so to answer your question, if you had not left the window open then there is a good chance you probably would not have gotten sick.

Question 3

is it bad to eat a bowl of salad that has been left out for 20 minutes. can the pollution from outside be absorbed into it if you leave window open?

Accepted Answer

No: The salad is fine. More importantly, you breathing in pollution is more concerning. Are you next to a factory or bus station? As far as I know, your city does not have significant pollution as a whole according to the Department for Environment Food &amp; Rural Affairs. http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/latest/currentlevels

Question 4

orange plegm, only this morning. not to bad of a caugh. had to leave windows open last nigh, 60 in va. should i be concerned? non smoker.

Accepted Answer

Monitor: If the colored phlegm is persistent you may need to see a doctor, it may resolve on its own also if you just had a cold.

Question 5

when i am in a car, if i(or someone else) closes the door suddenly i get pressure pain in one ear. however, if i leave a window open and then close the door it doesn't bother me. thoughts?

Accepted Answer

: There may be a perforation of the ear drum in that ear from an old ear infection or from some type of trauma. A physician or ENT specialist would have to exam your ear with an otoscope in order to visualize the ear drum. I recommend the specialist in case wax needs to be removed in order to get a good look at the drum.

Question 6

my 19 month old has a triangle red mark on his neck. worried it could be a bat bite? i searched condo and suv didnt find a bat but i do leave windows open (with screen) concerned bat might have bitten him and escaped?

Accepted Answer

Insect or other: Possibly if you have bats in the area. Other common causes include insects such as a spider. 
Place a thin layer of Bacitracin ointment on the skin twice daily and please have a virtual consult with Healthtap or a visit with your pediatrician. Watch for signs of infection, such as swelling, increased redness and drainage.

Question 7

is it good or bad to leave window open at night while sleeping? for lungs, respiratory, allergies..

Accepted Answer

Varies: With season,  geographic area, pollen sensitivity, so it's judgmental, at any rate, letting fresh air in for some time every dsy won't harm, then control your environment with A/C or other if needed like HEPA filter if needed

Question 8

can you sleep with the window open with out geting a cold or geting sick?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Since body temperature drops during sleep you may be prone to getting chilled, especially if you perspire during sleep. Hope that helps.

Question 9

burnt a nylon jacket on the stove. inhaled a lot of the fumes and feel sick. left the house and left windows open. when will it be safe to go back in?

Accepted Answer

Burning nylon: Fumes from burning nylon probably didn't do your liver any favors, but overall it will handle it OK, if this is the only insult. 
 I'm sure your lungs and bronchi weren't too happy either, but likely no lasting damage.
 I would stay out until you don't see smoke. You may want to set up a fan to blow out the window if it still stinks. Eat light if nauseated, it should pass.

Question 10

im not sick, but have been hacking up yellow/green balls of mucus for 4 days. been sleep w/ windows open last couple nights, could this be the cause?

Accepted Answer

Phlegm: Always good to hear that you don't feel sick. Allergies could do this, too. One big question, though, is "Do you smoke?" That and the environment might also cause a bronchitis. May simply go away within 1-2 weeks but if persistent or worse you will need to be seen by the doctors. Let me how it goes...

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Doctor answers about:

Could leaving the window open during the winter make someone sick

A member asked:

Could leaving the window open during the winter make someone sick?

A member asked:

Does leaving the window open affect whether i throw off a cold or not? on day one, i felt slightly sick like i was coming down with something. but after getting a good night's sleep, i felt better on day two. however, that night i left the window open and

A member asked:

Is it bad to eat a bowl of salad that has been left out for 20 minutes. can the pollution from outside be absorbed into it if you leave window open?

A member asked:

Orange plegm, only this morning. not to bad of a caugh. had to leave windows open last nigh, 60 in va. should i be concerned? non smoker.

A member asked:

When i am in a car, if i(or someone else) closes the door suddenly i get pressure pain in one ear. however, if i leave a window open and then close the door it doesn't bother me. thoughts?

A member asked:

My 19 month old has a triangle red mark on his neck. worried it could be a bat bite? i searched condo and suv didnt find a bat but i do leave windows open (with screen) concerned bat might have bitten him and escaped?

A member asked:

Is it good or bad to leave window open at night while sleeping? for lungs, respiratory, allergies..

A member asked:

Can you sleep with the window open with out geting a cold or geting sick?

A member asked:

Burnt a nylon jacket on the stove. inhaled a lot of the fumes and feel sick. left the house and left windows open. when will it be safe to go back in?

A member asked:

Im not sick, but have been hacking up yellow/green balls of mucus for 4 days. been sleep w/ windows open last couple nights, could this be the cause?

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