Like we don’t have enough to contend with right now, we are in the middle of spring and summer allergy time. That’s the itchy watery eyes, congestion, sneezing, and runny nose seasonal allergies to be precise. If you have suffered with this before, or maybe you are a newbie to this nuisance, we can summarize why you have seasonal allergies and what to do about it.
It’s The Environment
We need to start here. To a great degree, where you live plays an essential part in seasonal allergies, but spring, summer, and fall all have their particular culprits. Trees, grass, ragweed and mold are some of the most prominent violators of your peace. The environment where you live controls the length of a particular allergen and therefore the allergy season. What do we mean exactly?
- Mild winters can cause plants to pollinate early
- A rainy spring can cause rapid plant growth
- Plant growth leads to an increase in mold making symptoms last into the fall
- Ragweed grows prolifically almost everywhere especially on the East Coast and Midwest
Each day can bring new, worsening, or improved symptoms. A rainy day can wash away pollen, but it comes back with a vengeance after the rain stops. Windy days are worse for all sufferers, and be aware that pollen peaks in the morning hours.
In actuality, your “seasonal” allergies could last all year.
Then There’s Our Immune System
The second part of the answer as to why we have seasonal allergies is our own immune system. When our immune system comes into contact with airborne allergens like mold, pollen, and pet dander, it overreacts. It creates antibodies which cause all sorts of symptoms to protect us from the unknown substance. These symptoms can affect your nasal passages, sinuses, airways, skin, and digestive system.
Don’t Dismiss Other Triggers
Other “seasonal” triggers are out there too. Smoke from campfires in summer and fireplaces in the winter can lead to symptoms. Bites from insects, the chlorine in swimming pools, even pine trees and wreaths at Thanksgiving and Christmas can all bring on allergic symptoms.
If it seems like you can’t escape, don’t give up. There are solutions.
Discover The Cause And Get the Proper Treatment
There are numerous treatments available for seasonal allergies including over the counter medications, antihistamines, prescription nose drops, and immunotherapy (allergy shots) among others. Don’t just mask the symptoms, but discover the cause. There could be multiple allergens at work.
Reviewed by the board-certified ENTs doctors at Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat
Still have questions? Ask one of our ENT doctors!