Colds and allergies can often cause unpleasant symptoms that negatively affect your life. Unfortunately, it's often hard to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy as they share many similar symptoms.
Here are some differences which may help you sort out which is affecting you: A cold usually lasts from 3-14 days and occurs mostly in the winter. You may experience symptoms such as a cough, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, watery eyes, and either a runny or stuffy nose. Your mucus will probably appear green -- a sign your body is fighting an active infection. Many cold sufferers also experience a mild fever that comes and goes over time.
On the other hand, allergies can last for months as long as you are exposed to the allergen. Allergies can occur at any time of the year and affect different people at different times. You may have a sore throat, itchy and watery eyes, and cough. Your mucus will normally appear clear. Changing settings or removing allergens can often effectively address allergies which are not usually the case for a cold.
