Do You Have Allergies or a Cold? Welcome to Spring in Louisiana
Welcome to springtime in beautiful Louisiana where the pollen is plentiful and the weather can change in five minutes flat. Is it allergies or a cold? Here's a handy guide to help you figure that out.
How can I tell if I've got allergies or a cold?
Can't stop sneezing or coughing? Congested? Can't breathe? Is it allergies or a cold? Annoying, right? Let's face it, if it can grow, be it virus, plant, mold, or bacteria, it grows in Louisiana and then some. The folks at Zyrtec, Mucinex, NyQuil, and Claritin must have a special love for the people of Louisiana. After all, we're probably responsible for their family vacation each year.
First, a cold is an infection caused by a virus. Allergies are caused by your body's immune response to allergens. Both have symptoms that mirror each other like coughing, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc... However, allergies, more often than not, produce itchy, watery eyes. If you're running a fever, then it's not allergies. That doesn't mean it's a cold, but it does mean you have an infection of some kind that your body is trying to fight. I found this handy guide online and I thought you'd appreciate it since so many folks around here are suffering right now.
10 Signs Your Dog May Have Seasonal Allergies
10 Funniest Town Names in Louisiana