Cold as the cause of a cold

It is still widely believed that a cold is caused by cold alone and more precisely by draught, dampness or hypothermia. However, cold alone cannot cause a cold and even without having been exposed to cold before, one can get a cold. Often the first symptom a person with a cold feels is the sensation of “shivering”.

This symptom is caused by an increase in body temperature through messenger substances of the body’s own defense system. In order to increase the body temperature, the blood circulation is reduced and the skin cools down, the body hairs stand up (goose bumps) and the muscle tone is increased, even trembling. These mechanisms lead to a feeling of coldness at the beginning of a cold, but it is not the cause of the disease, it is rather a consequence of the virus infection. Indirectly, however, cold can increase the risk of infection, as people are more likely to be near infected people when it is cold, for example in buildings, public transport and poorly ventilated rooms. Another suspected link between cold and a cold could be a weakening of the body’s own defence system due to an excessively long or intensive exposure to cold on a body that is not sufficiently protected, which can lead to a poorer defence against pathogens.

Causes of a chronic cold

If one suffers very often from colds or has additional allergies, there is a constant effect of irritations on the nasal mucosa. For example, a hypersensitive reaction of the mucous membrane can lead to a chronic inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane and very often also of the mucous membranes in the paranasal sinuses (rhinosinusitis). However, anatomical changes in the nose and nasopharynx can also be causes of a chronic cold.

A crooked nasal septum, for example, or other obstacles such as foreign bodies (often in children), enlarged nasal conchae or the consequences of surgical interventions in the area of the nose can cause a chronic cold. It is not uncommon for children in particular to suffer from nasal polyps or an enlarged pharyngeal tonsil. Certain diseases that cause inflammation in different parts of the body can also lead to chronic inflammation in the nasal region. These include, for example, Wegener’s granulomatosis, in which an inflammation of the blood vessels occurs, or sarcoidosis, a systemic disease in which the nasal mucosa can also be affected.