How to Know if You Have Cold or Allergies?

For many people with allergies, the cold and flu season is an absolute horror of a time. The symptoms they have for their allergies are so close to the symptoms of colds and the flu that they often don’t know the difference until they are very ill and realize it’s the flu. So how can you tell if you really have a cold or allergies?

A cold is caused by one of the hundreds of rhinoviruses. The virus is contagious and can be caught by breathing in one of the minute infected particles as well as touching an object that is infected. Once it has entered your body, your immune system reacts with the typical symptoms we all know: study nose, sore throat, congestion, coughing and sneezing

An allergy is actually a kind of an error. The body mistakenly thinks that a harmless object such as pollen is actually a harmful substance. The immune system kicks into overdrive and attacks in the same manner that it would if it were a rhinovirus. This overactive immune system causes very similar symptoms including congestion and sneezing.

While some of the same symptoms may appear in both a cold or allergies, there are marked differences: A cold can last from a few to fourteen days. Allergies can last for months. Colds are most frequent during the winter months. Allergies can happen all year long. Cold symptoms usually take a few days to reach their peak. Allergies can happen almost immediately after exposure to the allergic substance. A cold can be accompanied by a cough, sometimes ache, fatigue and fever and may have yellow colored nasal mucus. Allergies may involve a cough, fatigue or sore throat but never involve a fever or aches. Allergies also involve clear nasal mucus.

Preventing allergies simply means staying away from those substances that can cause the allergic reaction. These may include: pollen, mold, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches. Preventing a cold is quite a different matter. Healthy hand washing and keeping a good healthy lifestyle and immune system, combined with staying away from crowds during the height of the cold and flu season are the best options.

There are many over the counter products as well as medications that can be taken for both cold and allergies. There are risks with both, as they often cannot be used in conjunction with other medications or products and may have side effects. Some products and medicines are limited by age. In many cases, pregnant women cannot take them due to the high risks involved.

There has been resurgence in interest in returning back to homeopathic medicines due to the nature of the ingredients and the long history of use. Homeopathic products such as Reme-Flu offer a more gentle approach through organic and inorganic substances to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Reme-Flu has a two step process involving proprietary blends that also accelerate cellular absorption.

Always consult with your primary physician or medical care giver before making any changes to your daily regiment.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.