Allergy or a cold?

You wake up feeling under the weather, your nose is running – and the question immediately arises: allergy or cold? Especially in the transition period, when pollen is flying and the weather is crazy, it’s not so easy to distinguish between a cold and an allergy. Because many symptoms are similar: runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat.

But while your body fights viruses when you have a cold, your immune system is a little too over-motivated when you have an allergy – and overshoots the mark. And when it comes to the right treatment, it’s important to find out whether you’re dealing with an allergy like hay fever or a cold. So let’s find out together how to crack the cold code – and whether your runny nose is caused by an annoying allergy or a stubborn cold.

Bless you! The basic differences between a cold and an allergy

Even if you previously thought allergies were not an issue for you, an allergy can hit you suddenly – even if you never had any symptoms before. Your immune system is constantly changing, and sometimes it develops an overreaction to harmless things like pollen or house dust “out of nowhere”.

And that’s exactly what makes it so tricky: the typical symptoms of an allergy are very similar to those of a cold – your nose runs, you sneeze constantly, you feel tired and exhausted. From a medical point of view, however, two completely different mechanisms in your body react:

• When you have a cold, viruses fight in your body and cause an inflammatory reaction, often accompanied by a sore throat and runny nose. And if your clinical thermometer shows a slight temperature, this also indicates a cold.
• In the case of an allergy, your immune system classifies harmless substances as dangerous and releases masses of histamine. This causes mucous membranes to swell, your nose runs clear and watery and your eyes itch intensely.

Because symptoms such as a cold or tiredness are non-specific, it is difficult for your body to clearly signal whether you are suffering from an allergy or a cold. The following overview refers to typical respiratory allergies such as hay fever or house dust mite allergies – i.e. allergies that make themselves felt through cold-like symptoms. While hay fever is mainly characterized by sneezing and itching outdoors, house dust mites are usually the problem indoors. We have summarized the differences to the common cold here:

Do you recognize yourself in several areas, but are still unsure whether it’s a cold or an allergy such as hay fever? An allergy test can provide clarity here – and help you to take targeted countermeasures instead of simply continuing to sniffle.

💡 Good to know: An untreated allergy increases the risk of developing a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma in the long term. So please don’t sit it out, act early!

What helps with allergies or colds? Gentle strategies for your everyday life

If a cold is slowing you down or an allergy is getting on your nerves, you want one thing above all else: to alleviate your symptoms. Especially when allergies and a cold make themselves felt at the same time – and this happens more often than you might think – it is important to know what is really good for your body.

If you have caught an infection, your immune system is working at full speed. Support it with small, beneficial routines:

• Drink plenty: preferably warm – herbal teas or simply hot water with lemon will keep your mucous membranes moist and help loosen mucus.
• Rest & sleep: Take conscious breaks. Your body now needs energy to regenerate.
• Essential oils: Eucalyptus or peppermint can improve the air in the room with an aroma diffuser and make breathing easier.
• Nasal rinsing or steam bath: Cleanses the nose, loosens stuck secretions and moisturizes the mucous membranes – ideal in the evening, for example.
• Warmth: A hot water bottle, footbath or heating pad relaxes the body and helps to get rid of the chills.

Allergies such as hay fever or a house dust mite reaction can last for weeks – with a constantly runny nose, itching and low energy. Targeted measures can help here:

• Avoid allergens: Wash your hair daily, don’t store street clothes in the bedroom and only air the room in the morning or late at night – this is when the pollen concentration is at its lowest.
• Humidifier: A humidifier can help to bind irritants, especially in dry indoor air – you can even get modern devices with an integrated hygrometer.
• Keep an eye on air quality: An air purifier with a HEPA filter can reduce pollen and house dust particles – ideal especially in the bedroom.
• Dose anti-allergic medication correctly: Talk to your doctor about suitable preparations if natural methods alone are not enough.
• Conscious breaks: Allergies cost energy – including mental energy. Consciously take short breaks to recharge your batteries.

Whether it’s an allergy or a cold – small things often help to get the symptoms under control. But: If the symptoms persist or worsen, be sure to talk to your doctor. Because sometimes there’s more to it than that – such as real flu or another serious illness that needs targeted treatment.

Inhalation – gentle help for allergies or colds

When your nose and bronchial tubes close up due to a cold or allergy, there is often only one thing to do: inhale and breathe deeply. This soothes, loosens stuck mucus, moistens dry airways and can significantly alleviate symptoms – an inhaler is good, whether you have hay fever or a cold.

And no: you no longer have to arm yourself with a hot bowl and a towel. The IN 705 inhaler from medisana makes it easy – and suitable for everyday use. The device runs on a rechargeable battery and transforms saline solution or medication into an ultra-fine mist that has a deep effect. You can inhale hands-free while reading a book or lounging on the couch. And if your child needs to take a deep breath – the matching mask is included. Perfect for anyone who doesn’t feel like making a big fuss when they have a cold or allergy, but still wants to breathe more easily. Sometimes you don’t need a big solution. Just a little knowledge, a little time – and a pack of tissues.