How can you tell if you have a cold, a sinus infection or allergies?

Timing, pain: Colds cause most sinus infections, so it probably isn't a sinus infection until you've had it for 10 days or so. I'ts unlikely but not impossible to start having allergies at your age (35). Allergies have a source, such as a new season (grass season is just starting in my area). Allergies will not directly cause pain. They will cause a scratchy throat, sneezing, watery, swollen eyes sometimes.

Not easy: A cold is a runny nose and is caused by a rhino-virus. Occasionally chills and fever accompany this. Allergy may present with a runny nose, but is frequently accompanied by watery, itchy eyes and frequent sneezing. Sinusitis, is a more serious infection which can be caused by both a cold and allergy but is usually associated with pain and pressure in the face, headache and purulent nasal mucus.