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| Breechay |
 Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: What causes common Cold? |
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10 to 15% of cold cases are caused by viruses infection in adults; Studies says that there's no proof that extreme temperature will cause a common cold: I don't follow that; if I stand topless outside for an hour in upstate NY during christmass time, am I not bound to catch a common cold?
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| Ophiolite |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:26 am Post subject: |
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Forum Radioactive Isotope
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I have no idea where you got your figure of 10% to 15% of cold cases caused by viruses. As far as I am concerned the figure is 100%.
To acquire the common cold requires three things:
(a) You are infected with the cold virus.
(b) You have not been recently infected with said virus, so that your immune system is resistant to it.
(c) Your general health is such that you are somewhat prone to the virus taking hold.
Item (c) could arise from being exposed to a cold environment, without warm clothing. However, many experiments seem to show this has little or no effect. Certainly, in the absence of (a), infection with the virus, spending an hour rolling around in the snow will not cause you to develop a cold.
Actually, I am fascinated to know why you would think there is such a relationship. |
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| DaBOB |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: What causes common Cold? |
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| Breechay wrote: |
| 10 to 15% of cold cases are caused by viruses infection in adults; Studies says that there's no proof that extreme temperature will cause a common cold: I don't follow that; if I stand topless outside for an hour in upstate NY during christmass time, am I not bound to catch a common cold? |
I have to agree that the temperature does not play a significant role. I say very healthy and in the rare case that I do gain the symptoms of the cold I still ride a bicycle rain or shine and go running outside and many other things (and those who know me know that I often don't where more thana pair of gloves for warmth).
I think the reason people think it does is because it's called a cold. Therefor you must be "cold" to get it. Not sure why it was called a cold in the first place though. :S Generally colds occur more often when the seasons are changing from cold to hot or visa versa (Fall and Spring). Mostly because the immune system is being overworked by the adjusting to the change and esspecially in the Fall (at least in the US) because everyone is eating junk food. The Fall is generally when it starts to get cold so maybe that's why it's called a cold. I'm just making this up aren't I. 
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| Jeremyhfht |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Well, to put it simply: when you are outside and get cold, your body tends to freeze up a little. The colder you are the less your immune system reacts to viruses and such. However the best part is that viruses and bacteria tend to not exist too well in freezing temperatures.
Now for the bad part: When you go inside, still freezing cold, your immune system is slow. And since most bacteria, viruses, etc, exist inside during the cold winter months...well....lets just say your body tends to react too slowly and too late because it's too cold. |
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| Kosta |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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Joined: 23 Oct 2006
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| Jeremyhfht wrote: |
Well, to put it simply: when you are outside and get cold, your body tends to freeze up a little. The colder you are the less your immune system reacts to viruses and such. However the best part is that viruses and bacteria tend to not exist too well in freezing temperatures.
Now for the bad part: When you go inside, still freezing cold, your immune system is slow. And since most bacteria, viruses, etc, exist inside during the cold winter months...well....lets just say your body tends to react too slowly and too late because it's too cold. |
Agreed... The body uses heat to fight off diseases. That is why one gets a fever when they get a cold- the body is attempting to deform the proteins and enzymes used by the disease (denaturing).
Running in the cold, and therefore lowering one's body temperature, only makes it harder for the immune system to fight incoming illness.
Also, the "common cold" is a direct result of the Cold Virus. I'm not sure where that 10-15% statistic comes in. |
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| DaBOB |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Kosta wrote: |
Agreed... The body uses heat to fight off diseases. That is why one gets a fever when they get a cold- the body is attempting to deform the proteins and enzymes used by the disease (denaturing). |
Also, the increased heat enhances the bodies natural immune defence; that is untill you get so hot you start to denature your own proteins. 
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"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -- John 8:32
"The best mind-altering drug is truth. -Lily Tomlin
I claim to be a passionate seeker after the truth, which is but another name for God." -Gandhi
"...only try to realize the truth. There is no spoon." -Spoon boy |
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| Jeremyhfht |
| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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increased heat also means that your body will die sooner.  |
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| CShark |
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| All colds are virus based. There are thousands of strains, which is why we get more than one cold in our lifetime. If you develop other symptoms, say.....strept throat, then THAT is bacterial (S.pyogenes), but all colds are caused by a virus. |
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| BumFluff |
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, all colds are virus based and catching the common cold actually has nothing to do with being cold (aside from the decreased immune system as has been mentioned above due to cold weather) which leads us to the question of why exactly it is called a cold. Neumonia and Frostbite are occurences that happen due to being cold.
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| i_feel_tiredsleepy |
| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Pneumonia is due to the immune compromise as well, and usually requires the added affect of a pre-existing viral infection.
Adenoviruses and Rhinoviruses cause the respiratory diseases usually called "colds". |
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| Pong |
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| BumFluff wrote: |
| the question of why exactly it is called a cold. |
The English idiom "catch a cold" isn't much help. But consider the same meaning (to get the cold virus) in some other languages is literally "feel cold". Then consider that the body's normal response to viral infection is to raise a degree or two in temperature. So when the body is trying to warm up, naturally one will feel cold even before more tangible symptoms make the infection obvious.
It's a classic case of attributing a symptom as a cause. |
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| CShark |
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't forget that pneumonia can be caused by viral, bacterial or in some cases, mycotic pathogens. Without treatment, these can be lethal. |
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| KALSTER |
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| in the rare case that I do gain the symptoms of the cold I still ride a bicycle rain or shine and go running outside and many other things |
Isn't this supposed to be bad for your heart when you’ve come down with a cold? Or is it only influenza? I very seldomly get a cold or the flu. I have been using a bronchodilator for a few years and have been wondering if it might have lulled some of the symptoms? I might get a three-day bout of hay fever and a drippy nose once in a long while, but that is it and never severe enough to be limiting.
PS: I am always fighting a losing battle each flu season in trying to stop every second person from starting a course of anti-bacterials whenever they notice cold- and flu symptoms. 
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Last edited by KALSTER on Fri May 09, 2008 6:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| i_feel_tiredsleepy |
| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Location: Montreal
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| Especially since anti-bacterials won't do anything at all to prevent influenza infections lol. Antimicrobials for home use are one of the biggest scams out there, they are used recklessly and do nothing to improve anyones health. |
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| CShark |
| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:57 am Post subject: |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 08 May 2008
Posts: 63
Location: East Coast of Canada
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People go to the doctor's for a 'cure'. They somehow feel better taking drugs then letting the viral infection run its course. This is how MSRA and other resistant strains of usually treatable bacteria are being developed...talk about genetically modified organisms! It is not unlikely that we are slowly growing a super-bug that, as Y.pestis did in the 14th century, may wipe out half the planet. Scary, isn't it  |
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