Runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, constant sneezing, uncontrollable coughing; telltale signs that you're coming down with something, but is it a cold or the effects of an allergic reaction? Because they share many of the same symptoms, it can be hard to tell. This article will help you shed some light on what you have and what you can do to get better.

The first thing you can is check your discharge after you blow your nose. If it is clear, it is more likely than not you are suffering through allergies. If the discharge has a yellow or green color to it, those are signs of a cold or a sinus affection. Because allergies and cold symptoms start off similarly, it can be difficult to tell from the onset, so it's best to wait at least 2 days before checking. By that time, your body would have a better grasp of what it is fighting at that point.

As you're fighting the effects of your allergies or cold, you may have bouts of uncontrollable coughing that accompany the rest of your symptoms. This occurs when the irritants enter your system and settles in your body; in which case, your body responds by trying to force it out. A mistake people make often is to swallow their discharge instead of spitting it out. Swallowing is keeps the irritants in your system, causing you to go have those symptoms even longer, so whenever you cough, always spit out what you cough up and again, check the appearance of your discharge. If it turns out to have a yellow or greenish color to it, that's the sign of a cold or a respiratory infection.

Typically you will start to feel better after awhile, so the next thing you can do is keep track of how long your symptoms last. Ideally, allergies last for at least 3 days before you start to improve. Colds, however, can last up to 7 days or more depending on how bad your symptoms are. If you don't feel your condition improving after 3 days, it's best to assume you have a cold.

Bottom line, it isn't easy to determine whether you have allergies or that you're coming down with a cold. Hopefully this article helps you get a better understanding in what you have and in doing so, help you figure out a way to treat your symptoms and keep them from occurring as often later on down the line.