Colds are most easily transmitted to others in the early stages when patients experience frequent sneezing and coughing. This is because colds are caused by viral infections, which are spread through airborne droplets. If you sneeze and cough frequently, you can spread the virus to others with the droplets, and it can also cause aerosols in the air. This can cause a cold if inhaled by others, so it is important to avoid spreading it as much as possible. You can avoid sneezing and coughing directly at others, or cover your nose and mouth or wear a mask, all of which can reduce transmission. In the later stages of a cold when the sneezing and coughing are largely under control, the contagiousness decreases significantly.