Coughing, sneezing, runny nose—your symptoms aren’t hard to detect, but the reason for them may be. How can you tell if it’s allergies or a cold? Dr. Albert Huber of The Allergist, Ltd. on East High Street gave us the lowdown on each culprit’s telltale signs.
1. Itching in the eyes, ears, nose, and throat is a red flag for allergies.
2. Swollen glands may signal infection and usually accompany a cold.
3. Duration: “Colds are going to be gone within 10 days nearly all the time.”
To treat allergies, initially avoid whatever may be causing your reaction. If after holing up indoors for a few days you feel better, it’s safe to surmise that you have an outdoor offender, probably ragweed in the fall. If, on the other hand, your symptoms are worse, it’s time to suspect dust or mold.
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What’s the reason for your sneezin’? |
Treating colds and allergies with over-the-counter drugs can be tricky. Dr. Huber strongly cautions against the use of cure-all cold medicines and warns that antihistamines can impair judgment and make you drowsy. Remember that symptoms such as fever, chills, and “thick glop running out of your nose” indicate infection and should be treated as such.
