56 Common Cold Solutions: 56 Meal Recipes That Will Help You Prevent And Cure the Common Cold Fast Without Pills or Medicine By Joe Correa CSN The common cold is a viral disease of the upper respiratory tract, primarily the nose, throat, and sinuses. There are over 200 known viruses that cause the common cold and they are mostly spread through the air or in direct contact with people who have already been affected by it. These rather tiring viruses usually attack during the cold winter months and affect all age groups. The average adult gets two to four colds per year, while children get six to eight because of their weaker immune system. Besides having a weaker immune system, some other lifestyle factors can greatly contribute to the body's inability to protect itself. Among the most important ones are psychological stress and lack of sleep. The common cold has been with us since ancient times. People are fighting it every single year for their entire life. The most common symptoms are a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild headache, and generally feeling weak. These symptoms are nothing else but the body's response to the infection.