This time of year it seems that everyone has sniffles, watery eyes, and some nasal congestion. But is it just a cold or could it be allergies? So far this winter, I seemed to have a constant sinus infection. However, when I talked with my doctor she suggested it may be allergies. I couldn’t recall ever having allergies when I was younger – could I really have them now? How can you tell if what you are feeling is allergies or a cold?
A cold typically consists of a runny nose, a headache, coughing, sneezing, fever and fatigue. It will usually last anywhere from a week to 10 days. The best cures for a cold include sleep and drinking lots of fluids.
An allergy is any abnormal reaction someone has to something that is normally harmless to other’s immune systems. Allergy symptoms are often very similar to cold symptoms: runny nose, coughing, congestion, a headache and sneezing.
One thing that may be the small difference between cold and allergy symptoms is itchiness of the eyes and nose found with allergies. Allergies also seem to pop up around the same time every year, say early spring or late fall.
Another key difference is the duration of the symptoms, while colds last for up to 10 days, allergies can go on for weeks. According to Dr. James Steckelberg, infections disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, allergies are also not passed on to others. Odds are, if you have been experiencing the symptoms listed above for a few weeks and none of your housemates have gotten sick, it’s allergies.
So if I have allergies now, why haven’t I had them all my life? Can people just develop allergies in adulthood? The answer is yes, they can. Although there is no clear explanation as to why, a family history of allergies or the environment you live in can both have an impact on allergies.
What can we do to help stop the congestion and itchiness? Here’s a few tips for at home:
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Wash bedding, blankets, children’s’ stuffed animals frequently.
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Vacuum often (once or twice a week).
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Take off boots or shoes and leave them at the door - many allergens can be brought in on shoes.
For some relief while you are already in the clutches of allergies, check with your doctor. He or she may recommend pills, nasal sprays, eye drops or other forms of allergy medication. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get another box of tissues!
For some more information on colds and allergies, visit these sites:
http://www.medicinenet.com/allergy/article.htm
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/relief-for-allergies-8/indoor-allergies?page=2