{"id":56695,"date":"2023-01-22T18:27:55","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T23:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56695"},"modified":"2025-01-22T12:59:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:59:58","slug":"stages-of-a-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stages-of-a-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the stages of a cold?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat\u2014oh my! Symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, or the common <\/span>cold<\/span><\/a>, can have you feeling downright miserable. Between blowing your nose and downing cough drops, you might wonder how long your cold will last. After exposure to the cold virus, you may start seeing symptoms within one to three days, with symptoms peaking in another one to three days. Cold symptoms typically last anywhere from three to 10 days. Continue reading to learn more about the common cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes a cold?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Growing up, did your parents tell you not to go outside with wet hair, especially in wet or cold weather? Colds are not caused by being cold and\/or wet. Although it is best to go to sleep with dry hair to avoid certain fungal infections and other problems, going outside with wet hair will not cause a cold. A virus must be involved for you to develop a cold. In the fall and winter, when the weather is cold, people are closer to one another indoors\u2014at school, work, gatherings, and other indoor events. The low humidity also causes nasal passages to dry out, making people more susceptible to catching a virus. So, you are more likely to get sick when it is cold outside, but it\u2019s more likely that you will catch a cold indoors.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a> (CDC), common colds are the main reason for missed school and work. There are millions of cases in the United States annually, with adults averaging two or three colds per year and children averaging even more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The cold is most often caused by a respiratory virus called rhinovirus. These viruses can also trigger asthma attacks and may be associated with <\/span>sinus<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>ear infections<\/span><\/a>. Other viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus, human coronaviruses, and human metapneumovirus, can also cause colds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n

Common cold <\/span>symptoms<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n