| Common Cold Causes | Ads | Sponsors | ||
| Common Cold Causes There are overwhelming, as more than 200 different viruses are known to cause the miserable signs and symptoms of the common cold. These viruses are called rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). About half of the time a cold is caused by a class of viruses called rhinoviruses. More than 110 distinct rhinovirus types have been identified. These viruses grow best at temperatures of about 91 degrees, that perfect body temperature right inside the human nose. The rhinovirus gets into the cells lining your nose and starts reproducing. It arrives from other people -- it is not cold weather that causes a cold, but the fact that cold weather causes people to congregate together indoors, which makes transmission of the virus easier. The virus generally moves from someone else's hands to your hands (either directly or through some intermediate surface like a door knob), and from your hands into your nose or eyes.
Your body reacts to the presence of the virus with its immune system. With a cold, the immune system opens up blood vessels through inflammation and also increases mucus secretions. These two processes give you the runny nose and the stuffy feeling. The irritation caused by the virus and all of the fluid causes sneezing. If the virus makes it into the cells lining the lungs, then they start producing fluid and mucus as well, which produces the cough. As the immune system gears up over several days and fights the virus, the mucus thickens and changes color with dead cells. Eventually, the immune system eliminates the virus completely and you are well again! Interestingly there is research suggests that psychological stress and allergic diseases affecting your nose or throat may have an impact on your chances of getting infected by cold viruses.
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