Common Causes
Many viruses can prompt cold symptoms—like runny nose, headache, and cough—but rhinoviruses are the most common.
Other viruses that cause colds include:
Adenovirus Human coronaviruses Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Human parainfluenza viruses Human metapneumovirus
Risk Factors
Certain things can increase your chances of getting colds, including environmental factors that make it easier for the viruses to spread and medical conditions that affect the body’s ability to protect itself.
Environmental Risk Factors
Both cold and flu viruses are spread through things like cough, sneezing, or wiping your nose and touching objects or other people. As a result, certain situations or environments can make it easier for viruses to spread from person to person. These include:
Crowded spaces: When a person infected coughs or sneezes, viruses can travel up to 6 feet away. Frequenting places where a lot of people come in close contact with one another—such as train stations, schools, or nursing facilities—increases your chances of coming in contact with cold viruses, especially during the wintertime. Shared surfaces: Cold viruses can live on surfaces for hours, making shared objects like doorknobs and handrails prime real estate for viruses looking to find their next host. Sanitary conditions: When you’re infected with cold viruses and wipe or blow your nose, the viruses get onto your hand or tissue and, from there, can transfer to other people or objects. Spending a lot of time in places where you can’t wash your hands or where surfaces aren’t frequently disinfected can increase your chances of becoming infected yourself.
Health Risk Factors
Not everyone exposed to cold viruses will get sick. Sometimes the body is able to fight off an infection early to prevent any symptoms from appearing.
Age: Young children and older adults are more susceptible to getting sick with colds and flu and are particularly vulnerable to experiencing serious complications. Medical history: Some medical conditions can make it harder for your body to fight off diseases or be exacerbated by colds or the flu. Pregnant women and those with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, HIV infection, cancer, or certain neurologic conditions are more likely than others to get severely sick with diseases like the flu.
RhinovirusesCoronavirusesInfluenza virusesAdenovirusesHuman respiratory syncytial virusesRespiratory enterovirusesParainfluenza virusesMetapneumoviruses
