Seasonal allergies (commonly referred to as allergic rhinitis or hay fever) cause symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and sinus congestion. They occur when trees, grasses and weeds release pollen into the air to fertilize other plants.
People suffering from seasonal allergies often overreact to harmless substances by producing chemicals like histamines which release symptoms of an attack.
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powdery substance released by trees, grasses, flowers, and weeds as part of their reproductive process. Most prevalent during spring, it can also become problematic during summer and fall and cause allergic symptoms such as itchy eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), sneezing, and asthma symptoms if present. Pollen may even trigger asthma attacks among those suffering from this condition.
Climate change can exacerbate pollen allergies. Warmer temperatures allow plants to produce pollen at an increased rate and increased carbon dioxide levels can make pollen even more potency.
Pollen counts vary greatly by season and geographic area, making the National Allergy Bureau’s Pollen Count Map, external link an invaluable tool to better understand current levels in your region. Check your pollen counts regularly, staying indoors when pollen levels are particularly high – typically around dawn until midday when levels peak.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s essential to seek diagnosis and treatment from a healthcare provider. An allergist can perform skin prick tests to identify which allergens are triggering your symptoms and may prescribe antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays as remedies; or alternatively allergy shots which provide long-term relief for chronic allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and severe asthmatics.
Animals
Allergic symptoms arise when your immune system responds to substances which are usually harmless but which it interprets as threats, creating chemicals like sneezing, itchy eyes and bald patches in order to expel allergens. This discomforting response often causes sinuses to clog, leading to headaches, coughing coughing wheezing shortness of breath shortness of breath and shortness of breath – leaving you exhausted due to both chemicals released by your immune system and lack of sleep due to obstruction in nasal passages.
Just as seasonal allergies affect humans, so too do our pets. While the symptoms vary for each pet, primarily itchy skin may be the primary symptom. Your pet may scratch or lick excessively in order to try and relieve this itching – this may result in open sores and other health complications; this form of allergy is known as Atopic Dermatitis or Atopy.
Pollen and spores that come out during certain times of year can trigger allergies in pets with itchy skin, leading to seasonal-based allergies. Your vet can assess seasonal or cyclical patterns of symptoms for seasonal allergies as well as locations of itchiness (paws, ears flaps, areas around face and eyes, armpits or abdomen). You can reduce allergen exposure by washing bedding regularly and using humidifiers during allergy season; our vets may prescribe antihistamines, decongestants or corticosteroid nose sprays as needed to manage any symptoms your pet might be experiencing.
Dust
As spring and summer unfolds, tree pollen, grass pollens, mold spores, and weed pollens release airborne allergens into the atmosphere that trigger an annoying array of allergies. These allergens cause runny noses, sneezing fits, itchy eyes and lack of sleep due to blocked nasal passages – as well as chemical responses in your body’s defense mechanism that release chemicals designed to combat allergens and fatigue.
Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, occur when your immune system misidentifies airborne substances as potentially dangerous and releases chemicals into the bloodstream to protect you. This causes symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy throat and nose, watery eyes and sinus congestion as well as post-nasal drip.
Antihistamines and decongestants may help alleviate your allergy symptoms by suppressing immune response and relieving sinus congestion, while decongestants reduce swelling by narrowing enlarged blood vessels in the nose and throat, relieving congestion. Nasal sprays that reduce swelling and inflammation in the nose and throat may also be effective. Your allergist may advise replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood or vinyl floors, and eliminating upholstered furniture from bedrooms in order to reduce exposure to dust mites which trigger allergies; alternatively you could wipe down surfaces with damp cloth before washing bedding regularly in hot water before placing into “mite-proof” mattress covers with zippered allergen-proof pillow shams for added peace of mind.
Mold
Mold allergies are caused by inhaling tiny airborne spores of certain kinds of fungi. Like pollen spores, they travel through the air and are inhaled into our lungs causing various allergic symptoms like runny noses, nasal congestions, itchy eyes, sinus pressure, sneezing and wheezing – not forgetting preexisting conditions like eczema or asthma which exacerbate allergic responses even further. Mold allergies may also exacerbate preexisting conditions such as eczema or asthma symptoms as they have previously existed within our bodies from previous encounters with mold allergens inhalations triggering asthma attacks as preexisting conditions such as these causes can bring on allergy attacks much sooner than pollen does!
As your symptoms depend on which kind of mold affects you, there is no specific “mold allergy season.” Outdoor molds typically begin appearing between July and the first hard frost of fall; indoor allergies can develop any time as mold thrives in moist environments and often grows on plants killed off by winter cold2.
If you suspect you have a mold allergy, consult an allergist. An allergist will typically conduct skin or blood tests to confirm it. Once confirmed, managing it may include staying indoors when pollen counts are high; refraining from gardening or lawn work activities; reducing outside activities that trigger your allergy; as well as regularly cleaning damp areas in your home such as basements, bathrooms or laundry rooms.
Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays may be sufficient to manage mold allergies; more advanced treatments include immunotherapy (allergy shots) or sublingual immunotherapy (taking allergen tablets under your tongue) which could provide longer-term solutions.
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