Tissues? Check. Orange juice? Check. Disgusting cold and flu drink? Check.
So, you have everything you need to kick this cold to the curb, right? Well, yes, except this cold seems to come and go. You just can’t seem to permanently shake it once and for all. In fact, you’re beginning to wonder if this is a cold or something else altogether. Well, we’re here to confirm your suspicions. Those cold-like symptoms you’re experiencing? They could also be symptoms of food intolerance or allergy. That’s right, your food is making you ill.
So what exactly are the symptoms that you might be confusing for a bout of winter cold?
Nasal Congestion
The most pervasive, recognisable and downright annoying symptom of the common cold is congestion of the nasal passages. A total inability to breath through the nose is incredibly irritating and it means you have to breathe through the mouth. This can lead to the condition known as dry mouth which can, in turn, lead to embarrassingly bad breath. It can also cause disrupted sleep which leads to increased levels of fatigue. Poor sleep denies your body the opportunity to properly recuperate from the ‘cold’. All of this serves as a kind of self-perpetuating circle of symptoms which can lead to mental health problems.
Sneezing
Bless you!! When every word is punctuated by a sneeze it can get tedious VERY quickly, not just to you but to everyone you’re around. There are only so many times people will extend the courtesy of a “bless you” or “gesundheit!”. So, this sneezing thing, its being going on for a while now hasn’t it? It beginning to look like its not a cold now isn’t it? Well, yet again, we’re looking at one of the symptoms of intolerance and allergies. When you have an allergy or intolerance to a particular food, it can cause your body to sneeze to try to remove the perceived threat from your system. This is particularly the case with hayfever. Taking an allergy and intolerance test can help you identify the substances causing you to sneeze uncontrollably.
Headaches
Nothing tops off illness quite like a splitting headache. A constant pain in the head which shortens your fuse, makes the simplest tasks seem impossible and just generally make life miserable. When you consume a food or substance that you are allergic or intolerant to, it causes inflammation which is a key contributor to headaches. By identifying your personal allergies and intolerances, you could cut back on those paracetamol and ibuprofen and get back to living a normal life.
If you’re suffering from symptoms of food intolerance or allergies, find a test to suit your budget here.
