Why did the common cold used to cause so many deaths in the past?

[jennifer_bloom]

When I get a cold, my symptoms are so mild, I sometimes enjoy being sick because it is an excuse to be lazy and gluttonous for 3-6 days. I do not enjoy severe illness because it makes me anxious but a mild cold does not bother me most of the time.

[purplepoppy]

It didn't on it's own, it just exaggerated underlining conditions and pushed people over the edge. There's rarely ever one thing wrong when we die. There's the primary cause but also secondary, and tertiary issues too

Being healthy and well nourished is like standing on a large solid table. But add poor diet, stress, poor sanitation, viruses, parasites, wear and tear and so on and that table shrinks and shrinks until one little thing knocks you off.

[georgeboy2006]

A lot of illnesses that were deadly back then were actually flu, pneumonia, or bacterial infections rather than the common cold virus. Plus, before modern antibiotics, basic sanitation, and proper nutrition, even minor infections could easily lead to serious complications.

[xawyx-3]

There weren't many medication for it in the past.

[xawyx-3]

Thank you for MHO

[RareBreedOfMan]

I believe the common cold turned into Pneumonia and doctors didn't know and it would kill lots of people many people would die from it.