Allergies are caused by airborne allergens that irritate both nose and eyes, with symptoms including itchy and watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), runny noses, itching of nose or throat and sneezing.
Allergy symptoms vary with each season and an allergist can provide allergy tests to determine what triggers an allergic response in you.
Pollen
Trees, grasses, weeds and flowers emit pollen grains into the air during spring and summer to reproduce. People allergic to these plants can have an allergic reaction when breathing these pollen grains into their respiratory system causing sneezing and itchy eyes; this condition is called allergic rhinitis and affects up to 60 million Americans each year; its symptoms can range from mild to severe and occur seasonally or year-round.
Immune systems often mistake harmless grains as foreign invaders and release histamine and other chemicals to combat them, leading to symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes; in addition, these chemicals may irritate nasal and sinus passages resulting in congestion.
Over the past decades, scientists have noted an increase in pollen seasons over time. Climate change-linked warmer temperatures allow plants like ragweed – a prime allergy trigger – to produce more pollen for extended periods. Meanwhile, increased carbon dioxide levels make the allergens stronger and can worsen symptoms further.
Antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants may help alleviate your symptoms of pollen allergies. Staying indoors during high pollen counts is also recommended, while wearing wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to protect eyesight is highly advised. If these medications don’t provide relief, speak to your healthcare provider about prescription options or immunotherapy (allergy shots), which gradually exposes you to increasing doses of your allergen in order to build immunity over time.
Mold
Pollen may be the main allergy trigger during spring and summer months, but mold spore allergies can also have similar symptoms year-round. Mold is a type of fungus which emits tiny seeds known as spores into the air that when inhaled can produce histamine to fight off these invaders – leading to runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat and dizziness or headaches as a reaction. Longer exposure could even result in neurological side-effects like dizziness or headaches!
Seasonal allergies, commonly referred to as hay fever, occur when your immune system overreacts to allergens such as mold spores and pollen from trees, grass and ragweed released into the air during specific times of the year. When inhaled, these allergens trigger your body’s release of histamines, leukotrienes and prostaglandins resulting in symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat.
Mold allergies can be caused by inhaling mold spores or living in environments with damp conditions like basements or shower stalls coated with soap-coated grout in bathrooms. They may also result from working in professions where you’re exposed to high levels of mold, or eating foods contaminated with mold spores (such as mushrooms, Quorn vegetarian “meat”, and pancake mix). The severity of symptoms varies from person to person but can often be quite uncomfortable.
Animals
Pet owners may be surprised to learn that their animals can also experience seasonal allergies just like them. Pollen, ragweed and mold allergens that wreak havoc with humans also affect dogs and cats – their symptoms including itching, sneezing and watery eyes being experienced similarly by both species.
Allergic Dermatitis in cats and dogs typically manifests itself through itchy skin symptoms rather than respiratory ones, similar to humans. Their skin acts as the first line of defense against anything allergenic in their environment that triggers an immune response; when something triggers this reaction it often results in itchy paws, ears flaps, areas near mouth/ears, armpits tail groin and abdomen being itchy with the possibility of open sores/scabs if scratching continues unchecked by animal.
Allergy shots can be an effective treatment option for animals suffering from allergies. Consisting of injections containing gradually increasing doses of an allergen to desensitize them over a 6- to 12-month period, this therapy has proven successful at decreasing allergic reactions in many animals. Anti-itch medications like Apoquel may be useful to keep them comfortable throughout allergy season.
Dust
Allergies can lead to various symptoms, including sneezing, runny noses, watery eyes, throat and nasal itching and mouth itching, depending on both season and allergen. Allergies result from overreacting of your immune system’s reaction against harmless substances called allergens; when your immune system recognizes one as potentially harmful germs or viruses it releases natural chemicals like histamine which inflames mucous membranes such as nose, throat and eyes leading to itchy mucous membranes which inflames them while histamine releases natural chemicals which causes mucous membrane inflammation which inflamed themching caused by its effect causing natural chemicals released by allergens triggering your immune system response as if it were harmful germs or viruses which were truly dangerous, thus creating symptoms that last all year round!
Seasonal allergies can be caused by dust mites (which feed off dead skin cells), mold, pollen from trees, grass and weeds as well as pet dander and cockroach sheddings. Over-the-counter allergy medicines, such as antihistamine pills, nasal sprays or eye drops may provide temporary relief; however some can lead to insomnia, drowsiness or high blood pressure if taken without being read carefully before use.
Dust mites are one of the primary sources of allergies and can be found anywhere from carpeting to drapes and bedding, mattresses, box springs and pillows. Washing upholstered furniture weekly in hot water helps reduce dust mite allergens; allergen-proof covers for padded furniture are available from catalogs or specialty retailers as a preventive measure against allergens in dust mites. Research studies have also indicated that certain species contain tropomyosin proteins which react with shrimp proteins to cause allergic reactions in some people.
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