Is It a Cold or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference

As the seasons change, it can be tough to tell if your stuffed-up nose is a passing bug or a reaction to an environmental trigger. The symptoms may feel similar, but treating seasonal allergies the same way you deal with a common cold — or vice versa — won’t provide the relief you need.

Get expert diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your needs by scheduling an appointment with John Terzian, MD, FACC, and the team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology. Our providers identify the root cause of your respiratory symptoms and offer effective solutions to help you breathe easily again.

Not sure whether it’s a cold or an allergy behind your early-spring sniffles and sneezes? Here’s how to tell the difference between the two and what you can do to start feeling better fast.

What’s the difference between a cold and allergies?

Both colds and allergies are instances of your body identifying a potentially harmful substance and triggering an immune response — which typically involves inflammation and mucus production — to trap and flush out the intruder.

The difference lies in where your immune system response lies. When you’re battling the common cold, your body is fighting off a viral infection. With allergies, your body reacts to an otherwise harmless substance, like pollen, dust, or pet dander, as if it were dangerous.

Though colds and allergies share many of the same symptoms, a few key clues can help you tell them apart:

Symptom onset

Colds tend to develop gradually over one to three days, often starting with a scratchy throat or fatigue before symptoms like congestion, sneezing, or coughing appear. Allergies, on the other hand, hit as soon as you encounter a trigger. If you start sneezing the second you walk outside or pet a cat, you’re almost certainly dealing with an allergic reaction.

Duration

A common cold usually passes in 7-10 days for most healthy people, while allergies persist as long as you’re exposed to the allergen. If symptoms hang around for several weeks or seem to flare up at the same time every year, it’s more likely an environmental or seasonal allergy.

Fever and body aches

When you have a viral illness like a cold or the flu, your body tries to kill the infection by raising its core temperature and releasing inflammatory chemicals, which can sometimes result in a mild fever or muscle aches. Though allergies also trigger inflammation, they never leave you feeling achy or running a temperature.

Itching

Itching is one of the classic symptoms of an allergic reaction. When you encounter an allergen, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines that can cause your eyes to water and make your nose, throat, or skin feel intensely itchy.

How to treat a common cold

Because the common cold can be caused by hundreds of different, rapidly mutating virus strains, there’s no medication or quick fix. Your best bet is to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated to support your immune system while it clears the infection. 

However, if your symptoms persist longer than 10 days, or if you have a high fever, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, schedule a same-day sick visit with our team. These are signs that your cold may be developing into a secondary issue, such as a sinus infection or pneumonia.

How to manage your allergies

If you suspect allergies are the culprit, we can help you identify your specific triggers and determine the best course of action. In the meantime, you can find significant relief by managing your environment:

• Check your local weather reports and try to stay indoors when pollen counts are high
• Shower and change your clothes after spending time outdoors during pollen season
• Use high-quality HEPA filters in your HVAC system, or use portable air purifiers to trap dust and dander indoors
• If you have pets, keep them out of the bedroom and vacuum frequently

Whether you’re battling a stubborn virus or trying to get your allergies under control, our team is here for you. Call or click and schedule your appointment with the team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, to find out exactly what is causing your symptoms.