The symptoms can be very similar but with hayfever the mucus from the nose is more watery. Also, a cold will usually last seven to ten days, whereas allergies tend to be more long term and recur whenever you are exposed to the substance that caused it. Many people also suffer reactions all year round because they are allergic to dust, animal dander eg dog or cat hairs, chemical fumes, temperature changes and the ever common house dust mite. Dust mites are particularly difficult to avoid. We live everyday with hundreds of thousands of them and they are everywhere - on dead skin cells, thriving in the warm moist environment of our cushions and carpets, blankets, mattresses and pillows.
People tend to inherit the tendency to develop allergies.
If you can not completely avoid trigger factors that cause your allergy, Self Care Pharmacists recommend antihistamine medicines. These are very effective and, if taken early enough, will help prevent the symptoms of hayfever. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness and you should avoid driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you feel drowsy with these medicines. There are antihistamines available which do not cause drowsiness. Self Care Pharmacists warn that some antihistamines can interact with other medicines and advise people to check with their pharmacist or doctor before taking them.