The cold weather opens up no shortage of opportunities for getting sick, with people contracting a cold or the flu and then unknowingly spreading these germs around. But for allergy sufferers – who account for roughly 20 percent of the country's population – the winter brings plenty of risk for allergen exposure too. While some, like pollen and mold, may be more prevalent in other seasons, there are plenty of other potential triggers around that could incite a reaction regardless of the outside weather – including pet dander, insect bites, laundry detergent and specific food items. That's why for millions of Americans, coming down with a cough or a bout of sneezing always brings up an important question: Is this a cold or allergies?
While both conditions will make you feel sick and miserable, it's important to make the distinction between the two in order to treat yourself as effectively as possible and best avoid future outbreaks.
According to the news outlet Philly.com, one key difference between the two is their longevity. The common cold will usually only hang around for a week or two, while allergies can last for several weeks at a time. The symptoms are also crucial to differentiating between a cold and allergies – while both may involve similar nuisances of coughing, sneezing and stuffy noses, they also each feature their own exclusive annoyances.
"Cold symptoms can include the sudden onset of chills, low-grade fever, cough and aches and pains," Dr. Clifford Bassett, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, told the source.
Dressing warmly and covering up while sneezing can help minimize your risk of catching the cold, while more specific allergy control products may be necessary in keeping allergens away. Consider investing in Allergy Be Gone's allergenic bedding as a surefire method of keeping your home allergy-free this winter.
