Is it a Cold or Allergies?, Articles, divine.ca

Is it a Cold or Allergies?

by Émilie Carignan
published March 24, 2010

rating: (33 Ratings)

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The birds are chirping, the temperature is milder, and all signs indicate that spring is on its way! It’s great news, but not for some people: the arrival of milder weather also means the start of allergy season. Allergies affect more than two million Canadians! Because the symptoms of colds and allergies are very similar, sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which, and treat our ailment adequately. Read on or click on our diagram to find out how to differentiate these two conditions!

Symptoms

Do you experience any of the following symptoms?

Sneezing
Congestion
Runny Nose

Then, you probably suffer from allergies or a cold.

Continue answering the questions to find out more!

Do you experience one or a combination of these symptoms?

Fatigue
Weakness
Headache or throat ache
Cough

Then, you have probably caught a cold. Consult the suggested methods below to appease your symptoms.

Rather, are you suffering from the following symptoms?

Tearing
Itchiness
Pressure in the nose and cheeks

Then you are probably suffering from allergies. Check out the methods suggested below to appease your symptoms.

Solutions

Cold:

Get some rest
Drink lots of liquids
Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Take pain medication if needed (acetaminophen, ASA, and ibuprofen)

Note: you should consult a doctor if your symptoms last more than 10 days.

Allergies:

Prevent the cause of the allergies (do a thorough cleaning of the house and showers)
Take antihistamines as needed (more effective if taken before being exposed to the allergen)
If necessary, opt for decongestants to relieve nasal congestion.

*This article is for information purposes only. Please consult your doctor if you suffer from the symptoms mentioned to establish a true diagnosis and get treatment.

Tag(s): health, cold, allergies, symptoms, body health

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Elizabeth B. Salazar
May 5, 2011 at 9:09 pm

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4 others heart this

I had an allergy and bad sore throat. I took decongestants and relieves my nasal congestion. It really works.

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Émilie Carignan
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Follow Émilie on Twitter: @zetranslator