While there is no cure for the common cold,the quality of the air you breathe has an effect on how often you get sick. Research also shows that once you have a cold,the quality of the air you breathe has a significant effect on the severity of your symptoms.
Billions of cases of the common cold occur every year around the world according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The average adult will get two to four colds per year,and young children average six to eight colds a year.
The most frequent cause:Rhinovirus
A variety of viruses can cause a cold but most often it is a rhinovirus,which is among the smallest in size of all viruses. A rhinovirus is typically .03 microns in diameter,making it an ultrafine particle (those smaller than .1 microns in diameter). Cold viruses are spread through the air and by contact with surfaces,objects and people.
The virus thrives once it makes contact with the sinuses,lungs or other respiratory-system tissue. Symptoms begin to appear in less than 24 hours. The most severe symptoms of a common cold often occur with those who have asthma or other respiratory illnesses. Rhinoviruses can trigger acute asthma attacks. Also,those with compromised immune systems have an elevated risk of experiencing the most severe symptoms of the common cold.
Steps to reduce your chances of getting sick
There is no vaccine for the common cold. Health agencies recommend a few simple steps to reduce your risk of getting colds and to lessen cold symptoms,especially during the cold season months of September through May:
Ordinary HEPA air purifiers are incapable of offering protection against particles as small as the rhinovirus. IQAir’s HyperHEPA filtration technology,such as in the IQAir Healthpro series,excels at filtering ultrafine particles. HyperHEPA technology is certified and proven to filter particles as small as .003 microns in diameter – 10 times smaller than the rhinovirus.
Steps to reduce the severity of cold symptoms
