
Do you want to enjoy the warm days of spring and summer but find yourself cooped up inside sniffling, sneezing, wheezing and coughing, avoiding possible allergens? Or is it that you’re suffering a summer cold? Distinguishing the cause of the problem will help to steer your treatment in the right direction.
Hay fever
Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is an allergy that affects the nose. Your nose is like a filter, filtering the air that you breathe. As it does so, pollens and other microscopic particles are caught in the tiny hairs and mucus that line the nasal passages. And if you’re allergic to say pollen, then the presence of this material triggers the immune system to attack, causing the nasal passages to become inflamed and more mucus to be produced.
The symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy ears, nose and throat, red, itchy watery eyes and headaches.
The common cold
A cold, an infection in the upper respiratory tract, is commonly caused by a virus. Like hayfever, symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, sneezing, fever and swollen lymph glands.
Hay fever or cold?
The following may help to point you in the right direction:
Hay fever relief
The fist step is to identify what you actually are allergic to, and then reduce your exposure to these allergens as much as possible. Some ways to do this include
Supplemental garlic, horseradish and vitamin C may be helpful to reduce symptoms and ease congestion of allergic rhinitis.
Cold relief
Help is at hand if you have a cold, whatever time of year it strikes. Vitamin C and echinacea may be helpful to ease the symptoms. Andrographis may help to reduce the severity and duration of sore throat and nasal congestion of mild upper respiratory tract infections, and is again best taken at the first sign of symptoms.
Other recommendations include getting rest if possible, plenty of fresh air and sunlight, inhalations with essential oils and steam and of course practice good hygiene to reduce reinfection and infection of those around you.
Of course consulting with your healthcare professional is always recommended to help distinguish between a cold and hay fever and map out the most appropriate treatment.