Can I really catch pneumonia if I am caught in the rain or cold without a jacket?

Can I really catch pneumonia if I am caught in the rain or cold without a jacket?

Richard Sheldon (Medical Advisor to the CA State Respiratory Care Board) gives expert video advice on: What are the most common symptoms of pneumonia?; How can I prevent pneumonia? and more...

That's an old wives tale. You really can't catch pneumonia that easily. There are times when you mght be out in the cold and also have just come from a party where you did a little extra drinking that you shouldn't have. You now have some gastro-esophageal reflux and you aspirate some of that into your lungs and you are out in the cold at the same time and you say "Aha that's the reason for it." In and of itself there is little evidence to show that putting on a nice warm jacket is going to make that much difference for whether or not you catch a cold/pneumonia or not.