How to Detect If You Have a Cold or Allergy?

Symptoms like cough, congestion, or a runny nose may get you confused that you have a cold or allergy. To understand if it's cold or allergy, you must understand the difference between both of their symptoms and duration of lasting, common causes, when one is most vulnerable to these conditions, and their treatment. In this blog, we will help you get a better insight into all these aspects of allergy and cold.Common Allergy and Cold SymptomsHere is a brief overview into the symptoms for allergy and cold:·       Allergies cause discomforts including feeling itchy and tingly. This happens mostly for the nose, with a condition known as allergic rhinitis. The allergy symptoms here are cough, watery eyes, runny nose, headache, congestion, sneezing, and itchy nose and eyes.·       If you catch a cold, you may experience cough, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, headache, body aches, and a sore throat.Distinguishing Cold and Allergy SymptomsAs you notice the symptoms may overlap for cough and cold, it is important how to detect the difference between both medical conditions:·       Allergy symptoms often affect eyes, throat, and nose – with itchiness as the prominent distinction. If you have watery eyes and runny nose with an urge to itch regularly, it may be due to an allergic reaction.·       However, if you experience fatigue, fever, and body aches along with other symptoms, it could be a cold or flu instead.Causes of Cold and AllergiesAnother way to differentiate between allergy and cold symptoms are understanding the trigger factors:·       Allergens include pollen, grass, ragweed, pet dander, mold, dust, etc. The allergens thus, could be present outdoors and indoors.·       Colds are usually caused by viruses. Common causes are parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, and human metapneumovirus.·       Let us give an example to help you understand the situation – if you are with someone sick and then encounter sniffles, there is a chance you have caught a cold. But if you experience the symptoms after being outdoors for quite a time during spring, it is probably due to pollen allergy. That’s because an allergy is not contagious, unlike a cold.How Long Do the Symptoms Last?The length of allergy and cold symptoms depend on many instances as mentioned below:·       In general, the duration for cold symptoms extends for 7 to 10 days. But for some cases, it can go for up to 3 weeks depending on severity of condition. The cold symptoms may go away on their own.·       In case of allergy, the symptoms can last longer, especially if the allergy is due to seasonal factors such as ragweed or pollen. Here, the allergy symptoms can affect through the whole season. Allergies caused from indoor factors such as mold or dust can last until the triggers are not eliminated from the surroundings.·       Like discussed, seasonal change can give rise to allergy-related instances and symptoms. You can easily understand what you are dealing with – cold or allergy. Colds usually occur during sudden shifts in weather or with season arrival (usually winter and summer), while allergies happen mostly during early fall or spring and somewhere in between.Treatment for Allergies and ColdsSince symptoms of cold and allergy overlap, you may think that treatment medicines are the same for both these conditions. This is partly true because certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications are efficient for cold and allergy. However, that’s not the case in all the instances.1.     OTC Medicines That Treat Allergies and Colds·       OTC medicines for allergies and colds include nasal decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Afrin). It combats swelling in the nose to ease breathing.·       Traditional antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (ChlorTabs) help with sleep and dry up mucus.·       Then there are oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). This too reduces nose swelling but may have side effects such as increase in heart rate and sleep problems.·       Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can reduce allergy and cold-related pain and discomfort.2.     Medications for Colds That Won’t Tackle AllergiesCold medicines reduce cough mostly. Suppressants for colds like dextromethorphan (Delsym) treat dry coughs, while guaifenesin and other expectorants treat wet coughs. These make mucus loose in the chest and throat, easing expulsion of phlegm.3.     Allergy Medications That Won’t Reduce ColdsAllergy medicines are sometimes designed for cause and not to relieve colds. Some of these are nasal steroid sprays that are targeted for allergy relief. The options are triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy), fluticasone propionate (Flonase), and mometasone (Nasonex). Some antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are also included in this respect.Summing it Up – Finding Relief Against Cold and AllergyWhile symptoms for allergy and cold are similar in many cases, at times, they differ and are possible to differentiate between. If you have known allergies, speak to a doctor about managing the related symptoms. Simultaneously, if seasonal changes affect your respiratory health, seek prevention and treatment techniques for cold and allergy – whichever that occurs.Medicines do help. But being mindful can also deter allergy and cold. In instances of allergy, it is advisable to avoid coming in contact with allergens. When it comes to contracting a cold, be extra vigilant in boosting immunity and taking measures to avoid viral infection responsible for cough and other discomforts.