Seasonal allergies (commonly referred to as allergic rhinitis or hay fever) often manifest themselves with symptoms like itchy nose, runny or watery eyes, and nasal congestion. Seasonal allergies tend to worsen during certain seasons when plants produce pollen; other environmental factors like climate change can aggravate them further.
Seasonal allergies differ from perennial ones in that their symptoms tend to manifest season after season; both types can be diagnosed using skin tests and blood tests.
Pollen
Pollen allergies are one of the leading seasonal triggers, released by grasses, weeds, trees, and flowers when they bloom and carried by wind to your eyes, nose, throat. Pollen allergies cause itchy eyes and runny nose as well as severe asthma attacks in severe cases.
Pollen can easily travel over long distances on the wind, which makes it important to stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts are high. Sterile saline eye drops and nasal spray may also help ease symptoms by flushing out your eyes and nasal passages regularly. Furthermore, keeping windows closed in both your home and car as well as using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in furnaces and vacuum cleaners will keep pollen away.
If over-the-counter medications fail to relieve your symptoms, consulting an allergist might be beneficial in offering allergy shots as a solution. Allergy shots expose small doses of allergen over time so your body becomes used to it and can eventually tolerate it; the Allergy & Asthma Network offers pollen forecasts which may assist in anticipating when symptoms will surface.
Animals
As with humans, pets may experience seasonal allergies as trees, weeds and grasses begin to bloom with pollen, spores and seeds which trigger allergic reactions in pets. Their fur and hair can become covered in these allergens which lead to scratching and chewing that results in inflamed, itchy skin conditions for these pets that are hypersensitive to them.
If your dog seems to be scratching more often than normal, licking their ears or rubbing against furniture, it is wise to contact their veterinarian immediately as they will be able to diagnose an allergy and provide anti-itch medications to alleviate symptoms.
Skin-prick tests are one of the easiest and most reliable ways for vets to diagnose seasonal allergies in pets. A small amount of allergen is placed onto their skin and then pinched, so that it may seep under. If the area around it becomes red, swollen or itchy after exposure, your pet could be allergic to that substance.
Your vet will perform an initial exam on your pet to detect seasonal or cyclical patterns in their symptoms, and may prescribe allergy shots to desensitize him/her to any offending allergens; allergy shots typically take six months or a year to work effectively, so early intervention is crucial. In addition to treating symptoms, your veterinarian can help prevent further problems by cleaning bedding and toys regularly and suggesting humidifiers in order to decrease mold growth while also controlling excessively hot or cold temperatures in your home.
Mold
Mold can produce spores that irritate your eyes, nose and skin – potentially even leading to asthma symptoms if you’re allergic. When inhaled through inhaling mold spores, they trigger your immune system’s release of chemicals such as histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandins; these trigger runny noses, itchy eyes and stuffy noses in some individuals as well as mycotoxins which are toxic and could prove life-threatening for those who already suffer preexisting health conditions.
Mold allergies can have both year-round symptoms in those sensitive to it, as well as occasional flare-ups at specific times of year. Your doctor can conduct allergy tests for mold allergies to accurately diagnose them – they might use skin prick tests with small drops of potential allergens being placed onto your skin surface and any raised bumps indicate an allergic response to certain substances.
Mold can also be found in food such as mushrooms and fermented beverages like beer, so being allergic to mold could increase your risk of food allergies. You can reduce this risk by keeping your refrigerator clean, checking food expiration dates regularly, taking over-the-counter antihistamines/eyedrops/prescription medication from an allergist, as well as immunotherapy (allergy shots) sessions which desensitize you to your mold allergies.
Dust mites
Dust mites are tiny arthropods (relatives of ticks and spiders) that live in mattresses, pillows, carpeting, upholstery furniture, and house dust. They thrive in warm and damp environments with temperatures above 25 degrees and humidity between 70-80%; taking in moisture through inhalation rather than drinking liquid sources to hydrate themselves.
Mite dropping proteins can produce allergic reactions when inhaled by individuals sensitive to them, irritating epithelial cells in the nose, eyes, throat, lungs and gut. They may also aggravate asthma symptoms like wheezing coughing shortness of breath.
Although dust mites cannot be eliminated entirely, the less dust mites present, the lower your risk of allergies or asthma will be. Reduce their numbers by regularly washing bedding in hot water (130 F or greater) and using a dehumidifier, air conditioner or hygrometer to control humidity in your home. Cover mattresses, pillows and blankets with mite-proof covers that must be washed regularly as well.
Dust mite allergies may produce symptoms including sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes and sinuses, irritation in throat or nasal congestion as well as skin rashes or hives depending on its severity. Antihistamines may help relieve symptoms associated with runny noses and itchiness while nasal corticosteroids relieve itchy sinuses while immunotherapy trains immune systems not to respond negatively when exposed to allergens.
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