How do you know if you have a cold or if it's just allergies?

Question

I have really bad allergies, but they usually don't bother this much. I have the symptons of both a cold and allergies. Runny nose, constant sneezing, sore throat, watery eyes at times. How do you know if it's just my allergies affecting me, or a cold?

Answer 1

some allergy sufferers have congestion in the morning, then clears in the afternoon, then comes back towards bedtime. With a cold, your congested all day. At least, this is what my doctor told me.

Answer 2

A cold usually lasts about a week.But a cold doesn't usually have the runny eyes, or constant sneezing.Sometimes no sore throat. The other symptoms you describe,are more assiciated with an Allergy. Have you thought about getting Hypnotherapy? From a clinical Hypnotherapist. Sometimes allergies are generated from a Psychosomatic source.

Answer 3

If it were just a cold, you wouldnt have the watery eyes accompanying it. But having said this if your allergys dont affect you much, i would actually reckon you have a cold. My partners the same and when he got a cold the other day, his allergys flared up. Get well soon.

Answer 4

Frequent sneezing without fever or systemic symptoms suggest allergy otherwise it is cold, but cold shouldn't last more than about a week. so consult ENT doctor, it could be sinusitis or something else.

Answer 5

One thing I noticed is when I had an allergy, my eyes and face were all itchy. When I had a cold, I had all those listed symptoms except I wasn't really itchy. See if you notice that.

Answer 6

a cold lasts only about 9 days . (3 days coming 3 days with you and 3 days going) if your symptoms don't follow this pattern then you dont have a cold and should see the doc

Answer 7

Allergies are not "just" something. They can be a bad thing.
What does your doctor say? You have consulted your doctor, haven't you? I cannot believe you want to solve a medical problem online...

Answer 8

when you have congestion and runing a fever