You wake up with a runny nose, scratchy throat, and a foggy head. Is it a cold? Or are Hendersonville’s seasonal allergies to blame? This confusion is widespread, especially during allergy season when pollen levels are high. But knowing whether you have allergies or a cold helps you find the right relief.
This blog explores why allergies and colds get confused, how to spot the differences, and what IntraVenous Solutions can do for you. We are here to help you get back to normal, no matter what your symptoms are. If you need cold or allergy treatment in Hendersonville, TN, we have an IV cocktail to restore you and your body.
The Overlap: Why Allergies and Colds Get Confused
It is not shocking that people easily mix up allergies and colds, because their symptoms can present almost identically at first. When you start to feel under the weather, you may not think twice about what makes you feel that way; you simply want to feel better as quickly as possible. Until, that is, your cold medicine doesn’t do anything for your “cold”.
Weather changes and pollen counts often blur the line between allergies and colds. It can be hard to tell what might cause your symptoms in a place like Hendersonville, which is home to many different allergens year-round. Tree, grass, and weed pollen run rampant each year in their respective seasons, leaving individuals with symptoms that mimic a cold.
While they can feel the same, allergies and colds have different sources. You get allergies when your immune system reacts to something harmless as if it were dangerous. The common cold comes from a virus, which usually attacks your respiratory system.
Key Differences You Can Spot
Here are some of the ways you can tell the difference between colds and allergies. Understanding these differences helps you when it comes to treatment plans and how to find relief.
Symptoms
Symptoms like sneezing, congestion, fatigue, and a stuffy nose come with both allergies and colds. But a few other symptoms can indicate if you need to look for allergy treatment in Hendersonville, or if you have the common cold:
- Fever is usually present with a cold, but rarely present with allergies. If you register a fever along with sinus congestion, fatigue, and a cough, you most likely have a cold.
- Body aches can accompany a fever when you experience a cold. They are not usually a symptom of allergies.
- Sore throat is another symptom of a cold that rarely comes with allergies.
- Itchy or watery eyes are a common symptom of allergies, as they come from raised histamine levels. Colds usually do not cause itchy or watery eyes.
Duration and Onset
Another way to tell whether you have a cold or allergies is the duration of your symptoms. Cold symptoms usually subside in 7 to 10 days, and they come on with a gradual progression.
You could wake up one day with only minor symptoms like a scratchy throat, but feel your symptoms gradually worsen over the next few days. The effects usually peak around day 4 or 5, when some may start experiencing fever and body aches. With a cold, you should start to feel better around day 7 or 8.
Allergy symptoms usually show up quickly and may persist for weeks or months. Some allergies start within minutes of exposure. Your allergy, its severity, and the length of exposure all determine the duration of your symptoms. For example, seasonal allergies can last all the way from early spring to late fall, while allergies like pet dander may only last for minutes to hours.
Seasonality
More people experience colds in the winter months, as lower temperatures are believed to affect immune responses. Allergies peak in spring and fall when outdoor allergens are prevalent. In Tennessee, where we have allergens from spring pollen to fall ragweed, life can often feel like a never-ending cycle of sneezing and itchiness.
Contagiousness
Allergies are not contagious, although it may seem like they are, since so many people suffer from them! However, colds are contagious. The common cold can easily spread from person to person, and people may experience 2 to 3 colds a year. Winter months and cold temperatures make people stay inside, closer to each other, leading to the spread of colds.
Why Accurate Diagnoses Matter
When you wake up not feeling great, you might reach into your medicine cabinet and try to find the best source of relief. But what if you don’t know whether you have a cold or allergies? Properly understanding your symptoms can allow you to accurately diagnose yourself, so you can get exactly what your body needs.
If you have a cold, then rest, hydration, and time are your best allies. Antibiotics target bacteria, so they will not help a cold, since it is a viral infection. Similarly, antihistamines won’t ease your cold symptoms. Most cold medicines provide symptom relief rather than attacking the virus itself, which is why it is crucial to attack the illness at the source.
Allergies come from an immune reaction; therefore, you can create the best results by targeting the immune response. Many people reach for antihistamines or nasal sprays to provide relief, but they may not provide sufficient relief.
IV therapy works great as an allergy treatment in Hendersonville, TN, since the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help your immune system get back on track, so you can feel refreshed and energized again.
The Solution You Have Been Looking For
With changing environmental factors and the stress of everyday life, our immune system can take a pretty hard hit. We all need a healthy immune system to keep us feeling well and energized. Real, long-lasting allergy relief can be hard to find, especially if you try to make do with what you have on hand.
IV therapy can treat many symptoms at the source. Other medication remedies like capsules, supplements, and sprays travel through the digestive system before the body absorbs them. IV therapy delivers nutrients directly to your bloodstream, so you get all the benefits, quickly. Our wide selection of science-backed infusions helps treat colds, flu, allergies, and many other illnesses.
Our wellness infusions replenish your vitamin and nutrient levels after illness, and they can boost your immune function. Whether you have inflammation, itchiness, fatigue, or even headaches, our curated blends can provide efficient symptom relief in a quick session. Take a look at a few of the blends we recommend for cold or allergy treatment in Hendersonville.
Immunity Boost
This immunity cocktail fortifies your body’s defenses against colds, flu, and other active illnesses and increases hydration. Here are the nutrients that make our Immunity Boost IV so powerful:
- Electrolytes help rehydrate, maintain fluid levels, and support energy levels to combat fatigue from fever and congestion.
- Vitamin C has natural antioxidant and antihistaminic properties and protects cells from damage. It can reduce symptom severity and duration.
- Zinc supports immune function and new cell growth. It can help you fight off a virus and improve respiratory function.
Myers’ Cocktail
Since its creation in 1954, the Myers’ Cocktail has been a pinnacle of vitality and wellness. The cocktail provides long-term benefits and symptom relief for various chronic conditions. We strongly recommend our Myers’ Cocktail as a cold or allergy treatment in Hendersonville, TN. Some helpful nutrients featured in this infusion include:
- Vitamin D, which supports overall immune function and can protect against respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D can also reduce inflammation triggered by colds or allergies.
- B vitamins, which increase energy and support overall health.
- Magnesium, which helps heart, nerve, muscle, and bone health. It can relieve sinus pressure and inflammation from colds or allergies.
Let Us Come to You
If you feel miserable, don’t worry about trying to get up and come to the clinic when you are already more comfortable where you are. Once you request an appointment, our mobile IV services can drive to you and set up to administer IVs in the comfort of your own home. Even outside the clinic, all services are provided by a qualified registered nurse and overseen by a medical professional.
Become a Member and Save
Many patients enjoy receiving IV infusions as a regular part of their health and wellness routines. As a member at IntraVenous Solutions, you receive discounted rates on our treatments and services, as well as premium benefits at our clinic. Become a member to save on:
- Wellness infusions
- Specialty infusions
- Botox and filler
Discover the IntraVenous Solutions Difference
As a locally owned IV bar, we offer more than allergy treatment in Hendersonville, TN, from aesthetic services to specialty infusions and weight management tools. All 4 of our locations offer services to help you feel energized and revitalized.
Our team has decades of experience and licensed healthcare professionals committed to providing quality care at affordable prices. If you are ready to experience the IntraVenous Solutions difference, stop by any of our locations for a walk-in appointment or schedule one online in advance.
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