Sneezing? Stuffy nose? Watery eyes? Sore throat? Do you just have a cold or an allergy? Experiencing these symptoms is very uncomfortable and if you have an allergy, it might be best to take a fast-acting Allergy medication to help you feel better.
First, you have to make sure if you really have an allergy or just the common cold. While they both share a lot of common symptoms, there are still ways how to tell which one you have.
What is a cold?
Colds are caused by different kinds of viruses but they share basic features. For example, they are transmitted from person to person. Another one is that a person who has a cold usually recovers very quickly, from seven to ten days. You can also catch a cold anytime of the year.
What are allergies?
If your body reacts to something in the environment, this is your immune system telling you that you probably have an allergy. When you’re exposed to allergens or an allergy trigger, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines. This release of histamines is what causes allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, or runny nose. Unlike colds, allergies are not contagious.
It's Probably a Cold If:
You have a cough, low fever, headache, or mild body aches. These are common symptoms of a cold despite different types of virus around.
Cold symptoms also change every few days. At the onset, you may have fever and stuffy nose, followed by sore throat for a few days. You may get cough or sinus pain before recovery.
The mucus is also a good clue to tell whether you have a cold or an allergy. The mucus produced by colds is yellow, green, and thick.
It's Probably Allergies If:
Your symptoms are the same and last for more than a week. Allergy mucus is also clear or watery. Another sign is that your eyes are itchy – a symptom rare for colds.
Allergies can also be seasonal or just occur in certain conditions. For example, do you just get it every time you encounter a dog or a cat? Or when you do your general cleaning?
Similarities
Colds and allergies have similar symptoms, especially since they both affect the respiratory system:
-
- Painful sinuses
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Post-nasal drip
- Conjunctivitis
Differences
Eczema, watery and itchy eyes are symptoms of an allergy. Fever and body ache are also exclusively symptoms of a cold. While sore throat can occur both in allergies and colds, it is more common with colds.
|
Symptom |
Cold |
Allergy |
|
Cough |
Usually |
Sometimes |
|
General Aches and Pains |
Sometimes |
Never |
|
Fatigue and Weakness |
Sometimes |
Sometimes |
|
Itchy Eyes |
Rarely |
Usually |
|
Sneezing |
Usually |
Usually |
|
Sore Throat |
Usually |
Rarely |
|
Runny Nose |
Usually |
Usually |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Usually |
Usually |
|
Fever |
Sometimes |
Never |
Source of chart: Mayo Clinic
What to do if you have allergies?
It’s difficult to handle allergies without medication. Now that you know you have an allergy instead of the common cold, make sure you take the right solution -- an allergy medicine to manage your symptoms. When choosing a brand, make sure that it is fast acting and less-drowsy like Allerta! Allerta contains 10mg of Loratadine, and works in as fast as 15 minutes!
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
