During the COVID-19 pandemic, a cough, sneeze, sore throat, or congested nose might trigger heightened anxiety. However, it’s important to remember that despite the many precautions we are taking during this pandemic, seasonal allergies and the common cold still exist. While some symptoms do overlap, there are a few key differences between allergies, the common cold, and a COVID-19 infection to keep in mind when assessing your symptoms.

Protecting yourself from a sinus infection is an essential part of maintaining respiratory health – particularly as we continue cold and flu season during the pandemic. Our respiratory system helps us breathe, allows our body to absorb oxygen for vital organ function, and cleans out waste gases such as carbon dioxide.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 31 million Americans experience sinus infections every year. While a sinus infection may seem like a minor ailment,

If a nosebleed occurs out of the blue, it can be a pretty scary event. But nosebleeds are pretty common and usually don’t indicate anything too serious.

Our noses contain a great number of small blood vessels that are close to the surface and can bleed easily if aggravated. As such, nosebleeds tend to occur more often during the winter months because the cold winter air and dry indoor heat irritate the nose.