Beat your allergies and breathe easy

Gesundheit! The trees and flowers are back in beautiful bloom, but the unwelcome season of sneezing and sniffling is also upon us. If you're among the 50-million-plus people in the United States suffering from seasonal allergies, you'll want to take action. "Allergies can give you headaches and affect your sleep, energy levels and ability to concentrate," says Shelly Harvey, MD, an allergist-immunologist in Dallas. Allergies also put you at a higher risk for conditions like sinusitis and ear infections. First, determine whether the sniffles you're suffering from stem from an allergic reaction. Then fight them head-on!

Test yourself: Does your sneeze say allergies or cold?

It's easy to mistake allergies for a cold -- the symptoms are often similar. If you're not sure what's behind your stuffy nose, take our quiz to find out which one you're experiencing.

1. How would you describe the onset of your symptoms?
A. They came on very suddenly.
B. They took a few days to develop fully.

2. Which of the following symptoms bothers you most?
A. Sneezing, drippy nose, watery eyes or itching in your nose, eyes, throat or roof of your mouth.
B. Congestion, sore throat, fever, or body aches and pains.

3. When you blow your nose, what does the discharge look like?
A. It's clear and runny.
B. It's yellow or green and thick.

4. Is there a pattern to when your symptoms emerge?
A. Yes, they tend to strike around the same time each year.
B. No, they're seemingly random.

5. How long have your symptoms lasted?
A. Two weeks or longer.
B. No more than a week.

6. Are you prone to eczema?
A. Yes.
B. No.

7. Is there a history of allergies in your family?
A. Yes.
B. No.

Mostly As: You might have allergies, so you should consult your doctor.

Mostly Bs: You could be suffering from a spring cold.