Do You Have a Cold or Allergies?

As the weather turns cooler, many of us start to sniffle and wheeze. Is it a cold or seasonal allergies?

According to the Mayo Clinic, while common colds are caused by viruses, seasonal allergies are an immune system response triggered by an allergen, such as ragweed. Colds can typically be relieved with rest, pain relievers and OTC remedies. Seasonal allergies, on the other hand, can be eased with OTC or prescription antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and decongestants and avoiding allergens where possible.

The Mayo Clinic also assembled the chart below to help you examine your symptoms and get to the root of your discomfort.

Symptom	Cold	Allergies
Cough	Usually	Sometimes
Aches and pains	Sometimes	Never
Fatigue	Sometimes	Sometimes
Itchy eyes	Rarely	Usually
Sneezing	Usually	Usually
Sore throat	Usually	Sometimes
Runny nose	Usually	Usually
Stuffy nose	Usually	Usually
Fever	Rarely	Never