You’re sniffling. You’re sneezing. And worst of all, you’re not enjoying the sunny, summer weather. What has you feeling low? Is it a cold or an allergy? You need to understand the difference so you can treat your symptoms properly.

At first, it can be difficult to tell the difference between colds and allergies. For instance, both usually result in a runny nose with watery yellow discharge, congestion and sneezing — maybe even sinus pressure. There are, however, two clues that might help you determine whether your summer sniffles are the result of a cold or an allergy: symptoms that go beyond a runny nose and how long those symptoms last.

Colds start one to three days after exposure to a cold virus. Frequently accompanied by a low-grade fever and body aches, colds usually make you suffer before they really strike you, and they tend to last for five to seven days.

Although more than 200 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and it is highly infectious. It spreads via droplets in the air when someone infected with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks, but it is also spread by hand-to- and contact with someone who has a cold or even by the use of shared objects such as towels, computer keyboards or telephones. Touching your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact increases your likelihood of catching a cold because the virus typically enters the body through these openings.

The good news is the chance of catching a cold in the summer is considerably lower than in the winter. The bad news is global travelers may be more susceptible than most to summer colds.

Long flights spent sitting near other passengers with colds can increase your risk of contracting a cold. The confined space in the air plane is the perfect environment for transmission of airborne viruses, and the air vent above your seat might only serve to blast more germs directly at you.

Air conditioning is another culprit for transmitting cold viruses. As it cools the air, it dries out the mucous membranes of your nose, throat and eyes creating the type of cold, dry environment that viruses like.

Travel to foreign countries also can increase the risk of viral infections; exposing you to viruses you might not have encountered before and for which your body has not developed immunity.

And, of course, stress in any form will lower your resistance to infection, since it can depress the immune system.

To treat a cold in summer, or at any time of year, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids — airespecially non-alcoholic, decaffeinated beverages — and gargle every few hours with warm saltwater to soothe your sore throat. Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, can help relieve headache, body aches and fever.

Unlike colds, allergies, such as hay fever, are triggered by specific substances called allergens. Reaction to these allergens begins when you are exposed to them and continues for as long as you remain exposed. Allergies typically do not cause fever; instead your immune system reacts to the allergen as if it were harmful to your body, releasing histamines that make your eyes water and your mucous membranes swell, and causing you to sneeze repeatedly.

Spring and summer seasonal hay fever can be caused by tree, grass and weed pollens, and spores from fungi and molds. Year-round allergies can be caused by exposure to indoor environmental dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches and spores from indoor fungi and molds. You are more likely to develop hay fever if it runs in your family. It can begin at any age, but most commonly in childhood or early adulthood. As you get older, your symptoms may worsen or improve and its severity tends to diminish slowly over years.

Allergy treatment is best provided by your physician if you have not found relief from using over-thecounter medications. You may need to see an allergist for an accurate and complete diagnosis, which will determine the allergens that trigger your symptoms. Avoiding those allergens can curtail allergy symptoms. Other treatment may include nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays or inhalers or immunotherapy (allergy shots).

Whatever causes your summer sniffles, don’t despair; there is treatment available to help you breathe easy and enjoy your summer.

An Ounce of Prevention

To reduce the risk of colds:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Dry your hands on clean, dry towels.
• Wipe down hard surfaces with a highly diluted bleach/water solution.
• Drink lots of fluids to hydrate your system.

To reduce risk of allergic reactions:

• Close doors and windows during pollen season.
• Do not hang laundry outside.
• Use air conditioning in your house and car.
• Avoid outside activity early in the morning when pollen counts are the highest.
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
• Take showers at night to remove pollen that may be on your body.
• Maintain 35 to 45 percent humidity in your indoor environment.