Allergy season has arrived and if you find yourself suffering from constant sneezing or a stuffy nose, it is important to know whether a cold or allergies is responsible, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) stresses.
Colds are contagious and can be caused by over 200 different viruses whereas allergies are not contagious and are triggered by your immune system overreacting to allergens. Springtime colds are not uncommon, but high levels of tree pollens, grass pollens and mold spores during the season make allergies, especially hay fever, extremely common.
Sixty million Americans suffer from springtime hay fever. To find out whether you might be one of them, these general guidelines can be helpful:
Starting symptoms - Colds typically start with a stuffy nose and throat irritation which lead to sneezing. Allergy symptoms include sneezing as well, but are usually accompanied by itchy eyes and nose.
Mucus differences - With a cold, the mucus often turns yellow or green whereas with allergies, the mucus is generally clear in color. Persistence of symptoms - Colds generally run their course in a matter of a week or two, however allergies will linger on as long as you are exposed to the allergen.
Fever - A fever is a strong indicator that you are suffering from a cold.
Itchy eyes - Itchy eyes strongly indicate you are suffering from allergies.
Sore throat - A sore throat can occur in both allergies and a cold, but is more common with colds.
Coughing - Persistent coughing, particularly in children, can be a sign of asthma. A continuous cough should be assessed by an allergist.
For more information about allergies and to find an allergist visit allergyandasthmarelief.org.
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