WebMD's guide to the basics of the common cold.
A runny nose, scratchy throat, and nonstop sneezing -- you can't miss the signs of a cold. But mystery shrouds a lot of other things about it. Why do you seem to get them so often while your best friend stays well? And more importantly, how can you stay healthy this year? Get the lowdown on the all-too-common common cold.It's an illness caused by a tiny, infectious thing called a virus.
Colds cause a lot of people to stay home. The CDC says 22 million school days are lost each year in the U.S. because of them. Some estimates say that Americans have 1 billion colds a year.You can catch it from another person who is infected with the virus. This can happen by direct physical contact with someone who has a cold, or by touching a surface contaminated with their germs -- like a computer keyboard, doorknob or spoon --- and then touching your nose or mouth.
A cold begins when a virus attaches to the lining of your nose or throat. Your immune system -- the body's defense against germs -- sends out whiteto attack this invader. Unless you've had a run-in with that exact strain of the virus before, the initial attack can fail and your body sends in reinforcements. Your nose and throat get inflamed and make a lot of mucus. With so much of your energy directed at fighting the cold virus, you're left feeling tired and miserable.
One myth that needs to get busted: Getting chilly or wet doesn't cause you to get sick. But there are things that make you prone to come down with a cold. For example, you're more likely to catch one if you're extremely tired, under emotional distress, or haveChildren have about 5-7 colds per year. A big part of the reason: They spend time at school or incenters where they're in close contact with other kids most of the day.
Changes in humidity in different seasons may also affect how often people get sick. The most common cold viruses survive better outside the body. Also, cold weather may make the lining of your nose drier and more vulnerable to an infection by a virus.Most colds last about 7 to 10 days, but if your symptoms linger, you may need to call the doctor.
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