Many people have this question when those familiar symptoms hit: Is the sneezing and coughing from a hay fever or a cold? It can be a difficult decision, but how long your issues last is one of the main clues. Keep reading to know the difference and when to call our GP for hay fever in Fuengirola.
What Are Colds and Allergies?
They both are caused by different things. People get a cold when a virus invades their body. There are multiple different kinds that are able to make you sick.
When you get infected by a virus, the immune system, which is your body's virus-fighting system, attacks the intruder. This is the reaction that makes you have the general symptoms like getting your nose stuffed up or coughing.
The viruses that are powerful enough to cause colds are contagious. For example, you can catch them when someone who has the virus shakes hands with you, sneezes or coughs. After a while, a few weeks at the most, your immune system should manage to fight off the cold and at this time you would normally stop having symptoms.
However, It's pretty different when we talk about allergies. They are caused when your immune system is overactive. The body mistakes things that are harmless, like pollen or dust, with germs, and it attacks them. If symptoms get unbearable, call our GP for hay fever in Fuengirola
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
Usually, hay fever becomes worse from late March to late September. It is common when the weather is windy, humid or hot, or when the count of pollen is high. Symptoms of hay fever are:
- A stuffed or runny nose and/or sneezing
- Itchy eyes, throat, nose, mouth and ears
- Eyes that are watery or red
- Pain around temples or forehead and/or headache
- Earache
- Sometimes sense of smell loss
- Feeling exhausted
If you suffer from asthma, hay fever could also trigger shortness of breath or a tight feeling in your chest. You may as well cough or wheeze. Call our GP for hay fever in Fuengirola if you experience these symptoms.
Many people's symptoms improve as they get older, and between 10%-20% of people's symptoms disappear completely.
What are the symptoms of a cold?
Symptoms of a cold usually appear gradually and include:
- A sore throat
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- A runny or clogged nose
- A loss of smell and taste
Some symptoms that are more severe include fever and painful muscles, although these symptoms are generally associated with a flu. The symptoms do not differ in children and adults, even though sometimes they may last longer in children.
What are the differences between hay fever & a cold?
A couple of symptoms of hay fever and the common cold are similar, for example sneezing or having a runny nose.
A sore throat, coughing, and, in worse cases, a fever are all symptoms of a cold.
Watery or itchy eyes are general symptoms of hay fever.
A cold normally lasts 1 to 2 weeks, however hay fever can last a couple of weeks or months, depending on pollen levels. The symptoms will be increased as the pollen count rises.
When to call our GP for hay fever in Fuengirola
Call our GP for hay fever in Fuengirola if:
- You are not able to find relief from the symptoms of hay fever
- You suffer from another condition that can make your hay fever symptoms even worse, like persistent sinus infections, nasal polyps or asthma
- The medication for allergy does not help with relief or cause uncomfortable side effects
Many people, specially kids, get used to the symptoms of hay fever, so they could skip seeking treatment until the symptoms get severe. Getting the proper remedy could offer relief.