Is it an allergy or a cold?
After successfully making it through this winter without a cold, not even a sniffle, I was feeling pretty good about things. After all, I write articles about staying healthy through good nutrition and I’m a distributor for a company that also has really great nutritional products. That’s how I should be healthy and not sick.
Then it happened! Suddenly I started feeling a bit weak, started sneezing and got a runny nose. As someone who doesn’t normally experience allergies, I was puzzled. I haven’t even been around anyone who had a cold. Oh, but one afternoon when I was cleaning for a friend who was hospitalized and undergoing rehab for several months, I did kick up a lot of dust mixed with dust and cat hair that had been there for many months. At first I just thought I was very tired because I had a few long, hard days of physical work.
However, when the sneezing and sniffling started, I began to analyze. What is this? Do I have a cold? Have I developed a new allergy that I never had before? So I looked at the common symptoms of colds and allergies. My conclusion was that I most likely acquired a dust mite allergy, which disappeared within a few days.
SYMPTOMS OF A COLD
They usually last between 3 and 14 days
It usually appears in winter
Frequent cough
Sometimes a person hurts
Sometimes fatigue
Frequent sore throat
Itching, watering of the eyes is rare
Frequent runny nose
Traffic jams
Sneezing
ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
It can last for days to months as long as you are exposed to it
It can appear at any time or be seasonal
Sometimes a cough
No pain
Sometimes fatigue
Frequent itchy, watery eyes
Sometimes sore throat
Frequent runny nose
Traffic jams
Sneezing
The common cold is caused by a virus and is contagious. An allergy can be caused by many things, but it is not contagious. What really causes an allergic reaction is your own immune system. Allergies start due to exposure. Even though you have been there many times, for some reason this time the body marks it as an invader. At this time, the immune system studies the allergy and prepares for the next exposure by developing antibodies, which are special cells designed to protect it. This activates other cells called mast cells. Fat cells are responsible for allergy symptoms in the lungs, skin, nasal mucosa and intestinal tract.
There are different types of allergens:
Airborne allergens such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold.
Certain foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs and milk.
Insect stings.
Medicines such as penicillin.
Latex or other things you touch.
Many people fall prey to allergies from time to time. If you are one of these people, you may want to look into some natural ways to avoid this unpleasant condition.
For starters, there may be some foods you can avoid, such as dairy and sugar. Otherwise, do not eat foods that contribute to the formation of mucus and congestion. There are also certain foods that can be helpful, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and flaxseed. You may need to drink more fluids, especially water.
There are also things you can do in your environment to reduce your chances of getting allergies:
* Wash your bedding weekly to avoid dust mites
* Use non-toxic cleaning products
* Wear a mask when working in the yard, garden or working in dusty conditions
* Clean up your living environment.
*Clean or replace your carpet
* Get rid of the mess that collects allergens
*Check your house for mold and pollen. Get a dehumidifier
*Wash your clothes after working outside
The above lists of dos and don’ts could probably go on and on. As with most issues in life that affect our health, obviously the better you take care of yourself on a daily basis, the less trouble you should have with other issues such as allergies. So I think the standard advice applies here too. Eat your vegetables, take your vitamins, exercise and get plenty of sleep.
#allergy #cold
