Is it a cold or allergies? How you can tell the difference
Allergies and colds can strike at any time throughout the year, but they are typically top of mind throughout the winter and spring.
Whether you're experiencing a cold or allergies, your symptoms may be very similar, but it is important you can tell the difference so you can seek the right treatment for you.
How Are Allergies and a Cold Different?
There are important differences between allergies and colds. For instance, allergies are not contagious while a cold (just like the flu or COVID-19) is contagious. However, it may help to understand what allergies and colds are in order to pinpoint the key distinctions between the two.
When you have an allergic reaction, it is your immune system overreacting to most commonly something you've been exposed to in your environment. This could be things like dust, pet fur or pollen.
The allergic reaction is caused by the various substances your body releases in order to combat what your immune system thinks is harmful. One of the most popular substances your body releases is called histamine, which is why you'll often hear allergy medicine referred to as “antihistamines.”
In order to help protect the body and defend against whatever is being perceived as harmful, histamine causes a lot of common allergy symptoms, like a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and coughing.
Here is where the symptoms of a cold and allergies overlap, but there are a few differences to look out for.
The common cold is a viral infection that targets your respiratory system. The number of viruses that can cause a cold reach beyond 200, but the symptoms and potential impacts from a cold are roughly the same no matter which virus you contract.
In addition to common allergy symptoms listed above, the common cold often causes a fever, body aches and a sore throat. You may even experience a build-up of phlegm as well as other complications like bronchitis or an ear infection.
Do I Have Allergies or a Cold?
Since your cold and allergy symptoms may vary, you may not experience telling signs like a fever to let you know you have a cold. If you're not sure what's causing your symptoms, think about the timing of your symptoms like.
If you have a cold, your symptoms will likely appear gradually over a matter of days. Allergies on the other hand will typically cause symptoms immediately.
Additionally, cold symptoms will often peak and taper off within roughly two weeks whereas allergies will persist while the allergen is still in the environment.
Plus, if you notice you get the same set of symptoms at the same time every year, you likely are experiencing allergies and not a cold.
What about COVID-19 or the flu?
Of course, colds and allergies are not the only common illnesses you can experience throughout the year. Symptoms caused by influenza (flu) and COVID-19 can also potentially get confused with colds and allergies.
Both are similar to the common cold in that they are viral infections that impact your respiratory system.
Flu symptoms generally appear faster than with a cold, and while they are similar to a common cold, they are typically more severe.
If you are infected with the flu, you are more likely to experience body chills, a fever and muscle aches.
COVID-19 symptoms are usually similar in nature and severity as flu symptoms, but they can also include loss of taste or smell.
COVID-19 symptoms can also take longer to develop than flu or even a cold. Typically, COVID-19 symptoms generally show up about five days after infection, but they can take up to two weeks to develop.
Preventing your allergy symptoms can be difficult since they're caused by substances in your environment. For instance, if your allergies are being caused by pollen, you could consider limiting your time outdoors during the spring months. If you are allergic to dog or cat fur, consider avoiding interacting with these animals.
Perhaps the most effective way to treat your allergies without impacting your daily life is to take allergy medicine once a day or when you experience symptoms.
The common cold is best treated by drinking plenty of fluids and rest. You may also consider taking cold medicine to relieve some of your symptoms as well.
The best way to prevent COVID-19 or the flu is to get vaccinated. You can likely get both at your local pharmacy. You can also find COVID-19 vaccines by using the Washington State Department of Health's vaccine locator.
You can also prevent COVID-19 or flu infection by regularly washing your hands and keeping your distance from others who are ill.
If you catch the flu, you should get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and possibly take flu medicine that could include Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for any aches.
If you catch COVID-19, you can contact your primary care doctor to learn the latest treatment guidelines as well as any medicines they suggest you take.
Before taking any medication, you should consult your primary care provider to learn more about specific medications and how they might impact you.
Additionally, you should contact your primary care provider to learn if you are at high risk and to learn about the potential complications you may experience should you catch the flu or COVID-19.
