A sudden runny nose kicks in. You sense a tickle in your throat. And a sneeze attack comes out of nowhere. Is it allergies? Is it a cold? Is it the flu? Is it a virus?
With the ever-changing weather it can be rather difficult to know if your symptoms are allergy-relater or actually a cold. This also leaves you feeling confused as to how you can treat your symptoms.
With allergy season around the corner, it’s important to understand the difference between a cold and allergies. When you're able to pinpoint exactly what it is that you're experiencing, you also can find the best possible way to treat it. Not only this, but you can possibly prevent from spreading anything that may be contagious.
Below are 5 ways to determine know the difference between allergies and a cold:
- Is your throat sore or itchy? If your throat feels scratchy or it's painful to swallow, it’s most likely a cold. If it feels itchy, it’s most likely allergies.
- How’s your energy? Allergies and a cold can drain your energy...and fast. However, a cold will usually knock you down and leave you feeling a little more drained than allergies would. If you're flat out exhausted, you're probably dealing with a cold. If you're a little fatigued, allergies are most likely to blame.
- Assess your cough. A cough is generally associated with both colds and allergies, but coughs can vary depending on what it is your body is trying to fight. If you cough throughout the day, you can relate that to allergies. If you notice yourself coughing more at night, it's definitely a cold.
- Do you have a fever? If you experience a fever, even low grade, you’re probably experiencing a cold. While many symptoms of a cold and allergies are very similar, allergies will almost never cause a fever.
- What time of year is it? Allergies vary from month to month. If you've suffered from seasonal allergies your entire life, you probably have a good idea as to when you’re going to have a flare up. Colds and allergies can both be brought on by certain seasons of the year, but allergies are far more predictable and can be expected the same time every year.
Whether you're experiencing allergies or a cold, your best line of defense is boosting your immune system natural with the nutrients your body needs to not only fight off cold viruses and allergies, but to prevent them as well.
Vitamin C is proven to be the best method of boosting your immune system. We recommend at least 2,000-4,000 mg of vitamin C daily. If you are experiencing a cold or allergies, you can increase your intake to 6,000mg daily to help give your immune system an extra boost.
Vitamin D is another very powerful immune booster. Vitamin D helps to fight off infections and because it helps to keep your immune system strong, it may prevent you from experiencing colds or allergies in the future. Vitamin D can be toxic in high doses, so we do recommend you check with your healthcare provider for accurate dosing.
The combination of vitamin C & vitamin D are a dynamic duo when it comes to allergy and cold season. If you or your family members have been suffering from allergy symptoms, try incorporating both of these immune-boosting and allergy-fighting nutrients into your daily routine.
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