You have a stuffy nose and watery eyes, is it a cold or allergies?

Ever since I was young, it seemed that in January I would get a really bad cold that would takes weeks to get over.  I would get worse for a week, and then I would get a high fever and have to stay home for a week to get over that.  Then it would take a week to get completely well.  Never giving it much thought, I just assumed that my destiny in life was to be sick most of January.

It is true that January falls in the peak colds and flu season.  Many people also assume that they get a cold or flu this time of year.  Others are suffering from allergies, but many see allergies as some sort of a weakness that sickly people are susceptible to.  Which are you suffering from?

Colds are caused by one of over 700 viruses known as rhinoviruses because they attack the mucous membrane of the nose and throat.  As they reproduce, the body responds with inflammation of the mucous membrane and begins making antibodies that are designed specifically for that virus.  The inflammatory response causes the release of histamine, which causes increased blood flow to the tissue as well as causing the eyes to water. The increased blood flow causes the tissue to swell.  Antibodies are designed by the body for a specific foreign protein, such as a virus, and take time to replicate.  Most antibodies made go outside the body to the skin, mucous membrane, and gut.  In the case of a virus, the body also makes antibodies in the blood to fight the virus as it invades the cells.  Once the antibodies are ready, the body starts a full-on war, with shock and awe, against the protein invading it.  Immune enzymes work better at higher temperatures, so the muscle begin contracting to create more heat.  This continues until the battle is won.

Allergies are also caused by foreign proteins, but not bacteria or viruses.  The pollen enters through the nose and contacts the mucous membrane.  The body perceives it as an invasion and responds with the same inflammatory response.  But pollen doesn't invade the cells, so the body does not need to fight with the enzymes that need higher temperatures.  No fever is produced.

If allergies go unchecked, the mucous can become trapped in the sinuses.  This gives a place for bacteria to breed, and the sinuses become infected.  Then the body needs to use the enzymes that need higher temperatures, and a fever is produced.  Also, the swollen, inflamed tissue inside the sinuses becomes very tender.

To know what is going on, the simplest test is to take your temperature.  If you have watery eyes and a runny nose with no fever, you probably have allergies.  If you have a temperature, then press firmly on your eyebrows and cheek bones.  If either area is tender or sore to the touch, then you have a sinus infection.  If not, then you have a cold or the flu.

As it turned out, I was having an allergic reaction to cedar (mountain juniper), and that was developing into a sinus infection.  I suffered unknowingly, and haven't had a bout since I started treating the allergy with homeopathic remedies that control symptoms and reduce sensitivity to the allergen.