Allergies, A Cold, or Both….Which One Do You Have

Allergies, A Cold, or Both….Which One Do You Have

Last week my kids were on spring break. I think it was a good thing that they were because Tyler and I got sick. It all started that Monday with Tyler. I knew something was wrong when he took a nap. Tyler never takes a nap and usually when he does it means that he is getting sick. I assumed that it was his allergies because they get pretty bad around this time. I did the normal I gave him all of his allergy medications and I broke out his nebulizer. Then I started to think that he had a cold because he broke out into a fever. So I switched to cold medicine and the nebulizer. We went on like this for about 2 days. Then It became my turn Wednesday. For me it came out of nowhere. My allergies aren’t usually as bad as The Husband’s or the kids. So when I started having my issues I thought they were just typical allergies so I took what allergy medicine I had and none of it seemed to be doing any good so I switched to cold medication and that didn’t seem to work either. I mean the allergy medicine took care of some of my symptoms but not all of them. So then I switched back to allergy medication. I mean I know it wasn’t good to do but I had to figure out what was going on with me. During this whole process I started to wonder how do you tell the difference between the two. So I decided to look it up.

So I began scouring the internet for answers and here is what I found:

Symptoms of a cold are as follows:

-Cold symptoms take at least 3 days to show after you are first infected. So I’m guessing I got my cold from Tyler which would explain why it showed up on Wednesday.

-Colds are sometimes accompanied by a fever. Definitely had that.

-Coughing is also a symptom of the common cold

-A cold can also be accompanied by body aches.

-A sore throat is also sometimes a symptom of the common cold.

-Finally a runny and stuffy nose is also a symptom of a cold.

Allergy symptoms are as follows:

-A runny and stuffy nose can be associated with allergies.

-Fatigue is also associated with allergies. (also associated with a cold)

-Itchy, watery eyes are most commonly associated with allergies

So odds are if you are only experiencing 3 of these symptoms then you are dealing with allergies. Now if you have these and then some then you are more than likely dealing with a cold like I was. There are some occasions where you are dealing with both which is the conclusion that I came to with myself. I am just now getting to the point that I am feeling almost 100% by Saturday I was well enough to attend the Lion King which I was praying that I would be. Either way I hate being sick. No matter which one you have there are ways of preventing or minimizing your exposure to both.

For allergies:

-Dust, vacuum, and clean your home daily.

-Dehumidifiers and air filters can be helpful as well. If you have an air conditioning system at home you should also consider getting it serviced by an HVAC professional. Live in North Carolina? Stein Heating and Cooling provide air conditioning fayetteville nc services to keep your system clean and working at its best.

-Keep your windows and doors closed during times of high pollen. If your windows are damaged, or significantly old, there is a chance that they could be letting in excess allergens that are contributing to your allergies. For this reason, you might want to consider getting new windows fitted. If you are thinking about replacing your windows in Los Angeles, go to windowworldsocal.com to find out more.

-Keep your pets out of your bedroom so that you can have one room unaffected by their dander if you are allergic.

-It also helps to wash your sheets in very hot water or put them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes

– There are allergen proof bed sheets as well as antibacterial and hypoallergenic mattresses available for purchase.

-For your children you can purchase washable toys,

-Another thing that can minimize your exposure to allergens is showering after coming from outside.

-You can also protect your eyes and mouth by wearing sunglasses and a facemask.

-One other thing that can help is avoid walking outside during high pollen times if at all possible and try driving with the windows up.

As far as a cold goes:

-Keep your distance from people with colds

-also keep your hands clean. You can use some Hand Sanitizer in a pinch to help with this if you can’t keep washing your hands all day.

Now that I know ways to determine whether what is ailing me is a common cold or allergies it will help me the next time I get sick. One other bit information that could be helpful is the length of time each condition is around. A cold can lasts anywhere from 3-14 days and allergies stick around for as long as you are around the allergen. Usually if you take medication for allergies the symptoms go away within an hour of taking your medication so if that happens then more than likely you are dealing with allergies. If not then you have a cold. I hope this information helps you as much as it helped me.