It’s a common reaction: Someone sniffles and one assumes they are contagious. However, this is not always the case. Those suffering from runny nose, congestion, coughing and sneezing may or may not have a cold. They may just be suffering from allergies.
Colds and allergies may have common symptoms, but there are plenty of differences, too. Common colds are contagious and may come from viruses passing through the air after someone coughs or sneezes. They can also spread by hand-to-hand contact or merely a brief touch with an infected person.
Alternatively, allergies originate as a response of an overactive immune system. Allergies occur when someone is sensitive to certain substances. Bodies then release a chemical called histamine to fight off detected invaders. The histamine leads to various symptoms that mimic the common cold. Allergies are not contagious.
Allergies can last for days, weeks, and even months depending on the patient’s severity and environmental factors (pollen count, precipitation, etc.) Comparatively, colds often last just a few days.
You may not always be able to fend off a cold, but there are certainly steps you can take to fend off allergy symptoms. Contact AllergyEasy to learn more about a no-shots, no-hassle approach to treating allergies.
