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HOW DO YOU CATCH A COLD?

Common cold is very widespread Over 200 different viruses can cause a cold, and rhinoviruses are the most common culprit.

HOW THE COLD STARTS

  • The common cold virus mainly affects the nose, throat, sinuses and trachea
  • The virus can enter your body via the droplets from a sick person’s sneezes or coughs
  • At the beginning of your infection, your nose starts producing a clear, slippery substance (mucus), which helps in washing the viruses away

Coldarin Virus in Action - 1

  • The excessive mucus production causes blood vessels and mucus membranes within the nose to swell—resulting in runny nose, nasal congestion, mucus dripping from the back of the nose to the throat (post-nasal drip) and headache
  • Other possible effects are
      a. Raised temperature
      b. Pressure in your ears and face (sinus pressure)
  • This process of inflammation and irritation also cause sneezing, coughs, sore throat (where the throat feels dry, itchy, and scratchy, making swallowing painful)
  • After the cold virus attacks, the WBCs in your body release certain chemicals (cytokines) that are known to cause behavioral and mood changes
  • These immunological chemicals can also make your muscles ache and leave you feeling weak
  • This “sickness behavior,” that is, feeling of tiredness, lack of energy, and reduced alertness actually helps your body to focus on meeting the high-energy demands—maintain fever to fight the infection
  • Good news is that most people recover within 7–10 days
  • Although symptoms like runny nose, stuffy nose and cough can last for up to 14 days, they generally should be improving over time