Seasonal allergies, commonly referred to as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, occur when airborne allergens trigger itchy eyes and runny nose. Your immune system mistakenly sees these harmless substances as threats and reacts aggressively against them, sending an overactive response signal into the system.
Seasonal allergies typically produce symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. Tracking pollen counts will help you plan your activities with greater efficiency.
Mold
Allergies to mold spores can have similar symptoms to pollen allergies, including runny nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, and scratchy throat. Inflammatory responses from mold spore allergens often worsen asthmatic symptoms; for those living with asthma in particular they can trigger attacks of wheezing. Mold spores are found indoors and outdoors but more commonly concentrated during humid temperatures like summer when high concentrations of mold spores are produced in large numbers.
Hay fever derives its name from hay-cutting season, historically taking place during summer. Today, however, its symptoms most commonly appear during spring and summer when grass, tree, and weed pollen is at its highest levels; autumn is ragweed season while indoor allergens such as cockroaches, pet dander, dust mites or other potential allergens may trigger symptoms in wintertime.
Seasonal allergies typically manifest when airborne allergens enter the body through the nose, sinuses or membrane lining the eyelids and covering whites of eyes (conjunctivitis). Doctors rely on patient history and physical exam to diagnose hay fever; usually no testing is conducted to confirm allergy presence; however they might order nasal discharge to look for evidence of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell known to trigger allergic reactions), which would indicate whether someone is sensitive to an allergen present in their nasal discharge.
Dust
Dust particles inhaled through breathing can be responsible for irritating both nose and throat as well as watery, itchy eyes – this condition is known as seasonal allergic rhinitis or “hay fever”, with symptoms involving both the membrane lining the nose (rhinitis) and eyelid whites that cover them (conjunctivitis).
Summer pollen allergies, also known as “hay fever,” are typically triggered by both weed pollen and grass pollen; however, most allergens remain dormant through winter months – but that doesn’t mean allergies won’t arise; indoor allergens like pet dander, dust mites and cockroach droppings as well as mold spores may all play a part.
Food debris left lying around uncollected on the floor is another potential allergen source, leading to respiratory distress when inhaled or eaten, or through absorption through skin contact. Dust may contain harmful chemicals which are absorbed through skin contact as well.
Allergy medications are the main treatment option for seasonal allergies. If your symptoms do not improve after using over-the-counter drugs, consult with your physician about prescription or over-the-counter nasal sprays and medications available through them. Allergists also can conduct allergy testing to identify which substances cause your symptoms; once this has been accomplished, immunotherapy can begin where increasing doses of allergens will gradually expose you over time until your body learns to tolerate them more comfortably.
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