Seasonal allergies (also known as “hay fever”) occur when your immune system responds strongly to outdoor triggers such as mold spores and tree, grass and ragweed pollen – leading to itchy eyes, runny nose and sinus congestion.
Symptoms typically surface in spring, summer and fall but they can occur year-round. Allergists can identify triggers through skin or blood tests and prescribe over-the-counter or prescription medications accordingly.
Pollen
Allergies to tree pollen, weeds, grasses and molds can lead to symptoms including runny noses, watery eyes, an itchy throat or nose and wheezing. Pollen is released by plants so they can fertilize other plants with fertilizers they produce and make seeds; when this fine powdery substance lands on skin or inhaled, an immune response occurs that produces classic allergy symptoms known as “hay fever”.
Allergens can differ depending on your region and season; trees typically produce pollen in early spring, while grasses release it later during late summer/early fall and weeds like ragweed increase around that time as well. With AllergyCast you can check pollen counts by zip code to get an idea of what might be present where you live.
Antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays may help manage symptoms; if these do not suffice, doctors may administer allergy shots that gradually reduce immune reactions over time. Another option available with a valid doctor’s prescription is allergen immunotherapy which involves weekly injections of gradually increasing doses of an allergen until your body adapts and gradually lowers its dosage over time; then it will eventually stop completely; other allergy medication available over-the-counter include eye drops and steroid nasal sprays.
Dust
Hay fever (also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) is an irritating, runny nose and watery eyes condition caused by allergens found in the air – such as dust mites inhabiting carpets and drapes, mold spores released into the atmosphere by mold growths, cockroach droppings from infestation, tree pollens from trees, grass and flowers, as well as pet dander. This problem can be triggered by any number of sources: dust mites that live on carpets and drapes, mold spores released into the airborne environment by mold spores released into the air by mold growths from mold spores growths; dust mites living within carpets/ drapes/fabrics/fabrics/fabrics/fabrics etc causing dust mite infestation; dust mites inhabit carpets/ drapes/ drapes/curtains/fabrics etc; mold spores airborne pollen from trees/grass/flower pollen from trees/grass/flower pollen pollen pollen from trees/grass/flower pollen pollen from trees/grass/flower pollen as well as pet dander/pet dander as pet dander/ dust mites living inside carpets/fabrics etc are common allergens airborne allergens such as dust mites living inside carpets/etc living among carpet/curtains etc; mold spores living among carpet/ curtains from carpet/ draperies etc, dust mites living among carpet/denva & draperies etc or pollen pollen flowers etc and pet /flower pollen etc & flowers pollen from pollen trees/ flowers pollen pollen sources etc; allergen sources as dust mites that reside inside/curta curtains etc etc & draperies etc / draperies etc being airborne invates etc & draperies etc & draperies etc being airborne dust mites living dust mites living within carpet/etc etc etc… etc… etc…..and draperies etc etc spore/dander mite/pol spore/ etc/coach dropping dropping cockroach droppings etc which then airborne mould spore spore/cockroach droppings/ pollen pollen/cockroach droppings etc cockroach roach droppings/cockroach droppings pollen/cockroach drop off etc cockroach droppings etc etc etc…. pollen etc dander etc etc etc, etc…..pet dander etc etc….d… or petd dander from where ever they could triggers etc from trees etc/coroach droppings which is airborne etc…… etc…..pet d ds dust mites etc etc… etc etc etc…etc
Allergens are generally harmless, yet your immune system often misidentifies them as threats and attacks them, leading to inflammation in the nose and throat and histamine release from your body to combat these threats. As a result, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, stuffy head symptoms are likely.
Seasonal allergies tend to peak during spring and summer when tree, grass and weed pollen levels reach their maximum levels. Some individuals, however, experience allergy symptoms year-round as a result of indoor allergens such as molds and dust mites.
If limiting exposure and taking over-the-counter medications aren’t helping relieve symptoms of allergies in Austin, it is wise to schedule an allergy test immediately with an allergist. They will use a skin prick test to ascertain what you’re allergic to; they will prick a small amount of allergen onto the skin and monitor its effect, including swelling or redness reactions. Once they know which allergen is responsible, your allergist may recommend over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants to alleviate sneezing, watery nose and itchy, itchy eyes.
Animals
Tree pollen, ragweed, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander can also wreak havoc with our pets’ health, leading to symptoms such as sneezing and runny eyes in humans as well as excessive scratching/chewing which often leads to skin lesions, hair loss and ear infections in our furry companions.
Allergies tend to flare in animals around spring, summer, and fall when plants are most active, as weather patterns change from high summer heat to lower winter cold. Similar to humans, animals may become hypersensitive to fleas and insect bites which exacerbate allergy symptoms further.
Skin testing is the ideal way to diagnose allergy symptoms in your pet and can be conducted any time of year. A vet will discuss his or her history, perform a physical exam and run several diagnostic tests before providing their recommendation.
Skin allergies in pets most frequently affect paws (particularly between the toes), ears, ear flaps, lips, face, armpits, abdomen and anal regions; however they can impact any part of their bodies. Skin tests will help identify which allergen or allergens cause the allergic response and devise an individual plan of care for each pet accordingly.
Mold
Mold spores can trigger allergic reactions in individuals with sensitivities. Breathing in mold spores may result in itchy eyes and nose, sneezing, wheezing and other respiratory symptoms – especially during fall when outdoor plant life dies off, increasing mold spore counts exponentially. Molds are fungi which break down cellulosic organic materials into soil for new plant growth – both indoors and outdoors; especially damp environments are susceptible.
Rarely, individuals can develop an adverse allergic response to mold spores known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This condition involves both allergic and inflammatory responses in the lungs which produce symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath similar to asthma.
Your doctor can diagnose mold allergy by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam, in addition to allergy skin tests or blood tests which identify allergens which trigger your symptoms. Additionally, keeping track of symptoms could prove invaluable during an appointment. Make a note of the time, location, type of allergy symptoms experienced and their duration. There are a range of over-the-counter medications that may help ease allergy symptoms, including antihistamines (although older models tend to cause more drowsiness than their newer counterparts) or using Sinus Rinse or Rhinocort Aqua kits to rinse your nasal passages may help.
Comments are closed