The arrival of spring means warmer weather, greenery, and inevitably — seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies and colds share common symptoms, making it difficult to tell the two apart. The common cold is caused by a virus, while allergy symptoms are caused by the immune system’s response to allergens (pollen, dust, pet dander, etc.) Both conditions typically involve sneezing, a runny nose, and congestion. Some signs that may help you differentiate the two include:
- Time of Year
– Colds tend to occur during winter and often show up a few days after exposure to a virus. Seasonal allergies however, occur immediately after exposure to pollens in the spring, summer, or fall.
- Duration of Symptoms
– Colds usually last between 3-14 days. Allergies last longer (as long as you are exposed to pollen, etc causing the symptoms.)
- Temperature or Muscle Aches
– Fever, aches, & fatigue are signs of a cold and not normally associated with allergies. However, sometimes a mild fever can be mistaken for allergies.
While we can’t always avoid stressful situations, we can focus on how we react to them – which has a huge impact on your body.