
Getting a cold is one of the most frustrating things. You have to deal with a runny nose and a constant series of sneezing. Moreover, a cold may be accompanied by a cough or vice versa. It makes things worse when you have to go to school or office. You may end up contaminating the workplace and infecting a whole lot of other people. We sometimes confuse an allergy for a cold as an allergy too causes congestion in the nose and leads to a runny nose. If you are sneezing and coughing, the first thought that comes to mind is a cold. These symptoms could be a sign of an allergy as well. Confused whether it could be cold or allergies symptoms? Read on to know about the similarities in both conditions.
Similar cold and allergy symptoms
An allergy occurs when the immune system has an adverse reaction to a substance or a series of substances. When you are exposed to an allergy trigger (which varies from person to person), your immune system releases histamines. The release of histamines to counter an allergen leads to the symptoms of an allergy. While allergies and colds do share some common symptoms, they are entirely different. Wondering if there are any common cold or allergy symptoms? Yes, indeed there are. Here are a few symptoms that occur in both cases:
- Watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
- A runny nose
- A sore throat
- Coughing
- Sneezing
A common cold may cause some other symptoms, but it is not accompanied by rashes on the skin or a sensation of itchy eyes. Over 50 million Americans experience allergies every single year. Some of the most common allergens in the country are tree grass and weed pollen. These are seasonal allergens and may be difficult to detect at times. Other year-round allergens include the following:
- Certain food items like eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and milk
- Dust mite
- Animal saliva or dander (house pets like cats or dogs may cause this)
- Mold
If you are suffering from cold or allergy symptoms, visit a doctor immediately to figure out whether it is caused due to a cold or due to an allergen. It is best to determine what you are allergic to as soon as possible to avoid going through these episodes on a regular basis.
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4 credit card processing services tailormade for small businesses
Read moreCredit card processing appears to be an easy process, wherein a card is swiped on the machine and an immediate deduction reflects on the buyer’s account. However, there are several more parties involved in this transaction apart from the consumer, the seller, and the bank. There are also credit card processing services that enable the transaction to take place. The payment of funds is a wireless transaction that is conducted between a consumer, the merchant (seller) who processes the transaction, and a catalyst (processing services) that brings about the transaction.
The transaction occurs when card details flow through the vendor’s processing company and through the credit card networks which connect to the cardholder’s bank. The payment is then processed depending upon the bank’s approval or denial.
Top credit card processing services
Below are our recommendations for the best credit card processing services that are transparent, have fair pricing, and provide excellent solutions.PayPal
PayPal does not charge any extra or surprise fees such as installation, compliance, and monthly maintenance. The charges made to you wholly depend on the number of transactions that take place through PayPal.While PayPal charges less for transactions that process through the platform, various added features are locked and can only be utilized when the specified fees to acquire the feature is paid.
Helcim
Helcim has charted out the exact cost and pricing of their services on their website. Training guidelines are also available for newcomers. They also accept all credit cards that are extensively used. Helcim also provides excellent customer service.Helcim is not recommended for small-time vendors who have small transactions and low revenue.
Square
Square follows a flat-fee system, which is ideal for small vendors thanks to its affordability. The pricing structure is very transparent and available on their website.The gateway may be affordable as it follows a standardized pricing system for all its customers. However, it may be expensive for big businesses. There have been complaints of accounts being shut down or frozen over dubious fraudulent activities.
CreditcardProccessing
There are no cancellation fees levied by this credit card processing company.Unlike the above-mentioned credit card processing companies, CreditcardProccessing is not as clear with respect to its pricing structure. This is because prices vary depending on the equipment used for processing the payment.
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Emphysema symptoms: What you ought to know
Read moreEmphysema is caused by continuous exposure of the bronchioles to irritants such as cigarette smoke, passive smoke, industrial solvent fumes etc. This makes the muscles of the bronchioles contract. Chronic exposure to irritants make these muscles contract permanently. Then, the mucus membrane lining the bronchioles start secreting mucus in order to wash away particulate irritants. Both these body reactions are to restrict the entry of the irritants into the cavities of the bronchioles and alveoli.
The next reaction is to cough out the irritants and the mucus. Severe forceful coughs can raise the pressure in the alveoli considerably and can rupture their exceedingly thin walls. The reduction of area for gas transfer and the loss of elastic tissues in the lungs reduces the capacity of the lungs to expel air. This reduces the intake volume of fresh air during breathing and can also lead to infections. These conditions produce the characteristic symptoms of wheezing, tightness in chest, labored breathing and coughing. These are also indications as well as symptoms of severe asthma.
The symptoms of emphysema are exceedingly severe and cause considerable damage to the lungs before the symptoms even show up. Generally, one feels a lack of energy and the tendency to skip some of the common daily routines. It progresses from slight difficulty in breathing to wheezing and then to a persistent cough that does not go away. One starts to feel a tightness in the chest and feels short of breath on exertion. Tiredness and persistent cough become constant.
Infections can set in, turning the sputum yellow, which also leads to loss of appetite, further aggravating tiredness. One will lose sleep and even sexual function. All this constant suffering and ill health lead to depression which would in turn lead to the patient needing psychiatric help. The lips and fingernails turn blue or gray due to lack of oxygen in the blood. One may get into a condition called hypoxia and may have to resort to oxygen therapy.
As the deterioration continues, the alveoli lose their strength and start rupturing. In extreme cases, there may be large scale destruction which leads to empty spaces in lungs called bullae. This would reduce the functional area of the lung which in extreme cases call for surgical removal. In an extremely rare condition, large scale rupture of alveoli can cause a condition called pneumothorax and the collapse of the lung, a very serious condition, which can be fatal. The best thing one can do is stop exposure to irritants.