Is it Allergies or a Cold?
The common cold and seasonal allergies share some common symptoms making it hard to determine what you are suffering from. If you tend to get a cold around the same time every year, it’s possible you actually have allergies.
A cold is caused by a virus, while seasonal allergies are an immune system response triggered by exposure to allergens. How do you determine treatment in the early stages? Pay close attention to your symptoms and refer to this list.
Cold Symptoms
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
Allergy Symptoms
- Itchy eyes
- Itchy throat
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
Now that you have a good idea what you’re suffering from, here is how you can treat it.
How to Treat a Cold
- Rest
- Over-the-counter cold medicine
- Foods high in zinc include fortified cereal, cashews, spinach, pork and chicken.
How to Treat Allergies
- Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants
- Avoid the allergens triggering your symptoms
- Check pollen rates before heading outside
When to See Your Doctor
If you have a fever that won’t go away or your cold or allergy symptoms last longer than ten days, you may be suffering from something more complex. Check with your doctor to figure out what’s going on.
