Seasonal allergy symptoms are signs that your body is reacting due to a seasonal allergy. The most common example to help you understand this is catching a cold during winters. Similarly, spring and summers also come with the potential possibilities of seasonal allergies. Here, we will find more about them and also how to treat.
Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergy is coughing or sneezing during a particular time of the year. If you are the type who has a healthy immune system and don’t get sick very often, yet during some time of a year you cough like your lungs are going to pop out or you sneeze hard, then there is a chance you might have a seasonal allergy. Some common symptoms of seasonal allergies are:
1. Itchy skin
If you get rashes during any particular season or some time of the year consistently then you might have a seasonal allergy. There are some aspects of that season to cause you that. Maybe it can be the air or the food items grown during that season or allergens that get onto you. You should carry soothing ointments if you suffer from bouts of itchy skin as a symptom of your allergies.
2. Runny nose
If you have a runny nose in a particular season then it most probably is an air type condition. A runny nose is caused due to the air around you. Mostly pollens are responsible for a runny nose which is abundantly carried by air during the fall season.
3. Itchy or watery eyes
Like the runny nose, itchy eyes may also happen during the fall season and can be seen as fall allergy symptoms. People have itchy eyes when they are too dry or air surrounding them has pollens. These are all the seasonal allergy symptoms that will help you determine if you have any seasonal allergy or not.
Seasonal allergies during spring
Trees such as maple, olive, and oak are responsible for most of the severe seasonal allergies caused due to spring. This is because most of these trees have colorful flowers and these colorful flowers trigger pollen allergies.
They have small, non-sticky pollens that blow in the wind and cause these symptoms. This is a health hazard for people who are prone to allergies and many people complain of fever and running nose during this season. Incessant sneezing is another common symptom associated with seasonal allergies during spring.
Some other trees that have small and non-sticky pollens are:
- Ash
- Cedar
- Cottonwood
- Elm
- Mountain elder
- Mulberry
- Pecan
- Willow
So, when the wind is too strong, people with pollen allergies should carry masks with them so that they can cover their nose and prevent pollen from entering their body.
If possible, they should stay inside their homes during windy days so that they can avoid any possible contact with the pollen. If you’ve been out on such day and are allergic to pollen then it is highly recommended to change your clothes immediately as soon as you get home. Make sure you rinse your hands and face right before you change into fresh and clean clothes.
If you are sure that you have pollen allergy symptoms and you want to treat it using legitimate medicines then you can use Antihistamines. However, it is best to speak to a doctor to not only buy prescribed medicines but to know preventive measures.
During summer
Grasses such as Orchard, Timothy and many more which appear to be beautiful can cause allergies. Grasses are also considered as one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies. So, if your tolerance level is too low then it is highly recommended to stay away from grasses especially during summers.
This is because, during summers, grasses release pollen grains in the environment so that plants of the same species can fertilize. These pollens are not visible to the naked eye but can stick to your clothes.
If you regularly go to the playground with your child or have a garden where you exercise every day, you can be affected by this condition. These allergens are microscopic in size but they can cause a lot of problems to people who are allergic to pollen grains.
Some other grasses that can cause seasonal allergies are:
- Kentucky
- Rye
- Sweet Vernal
- Johnson
- Bermuda
Prevent seasonal allergy symptoms from grass pollens
- Stay home when it’s too hot during summers. Generally, pollens are released by the grass during late spring or early summertime. So, during this time when the sun is at its zenith, you might want to stay indoors.
- If you have a garden in your home then, trim the grass as short as possible. This is because short grasses release lesser pollens.
- Try to shut your windows and doors and use air conditioners instead of fans.
- If you have been out for even a small duration of time then you might want to consider bathing at least before bed. Also, try to shampoo your hair in case you get any pollen stuck to your hair.
- Wash your pillow covers, bed sheet, and quilts at least once a week. Also, wash your curtains at least once a month.
- In case you have to go out then do wear sunglasses and hats to prevent your eyes and hair from pollen gains.
- Once you come home, change your clothes immediately and also try wearing long-sleeved T-shirts and long plants if you are planning to go to a grassy area.
- Try to dry your clothes indoor using clothes dryer instead of lining your clothes outside.
- If you own a pet especially hairy pets like dogs or cats then brush your pet outside the house before they cross the door to your living room. Also, it will be better for you if your pets stay away from your bed and couch.
However, if you are very sure that you are allergic to grass pollens and want legitimate medicines then you can ask your doctor to give you allergy shots or “Subcutaneous Immunotherapy” or “SCIT”. You can also have allergy tablets, “Sublingual Immunotherapy” or “SLIT”.
Note
It is also important to know that people allergic to such pollens don’t fully get cured at any point in time. They are rather relieved for some time and become a little more immune to such pollens but they are not cured. So, if you are allergic to such pollens it is highly recommended you take your precautions.
During Fall
Ragweed is the most common type of weed that causes seasonal allergy to people apart from the Russian thistle and English plantain which are mainly grown in summer.
Just like the trees and grasses, weed also has small, light and dry pollen grains that travel through the wind. These can cause mild to severe allergies in a lot of people. Older people are more likely to suffer from pollen allergies and sometimes it may even be fatal.
Some other weeds that have pollens and cause allergies are:
- Sagebrush
- Pigweed
- Lamb’s quarters
- Tumbleweed
These weeds can increase the pollen count in air and can cause allergies to people having seasonal allergies. It is always good for your body if you check the pollen count in your daily newspaper before leaving home.
These prevention tactics are sure to go a long way in helping you combat those pesky allergies. You should consider purchasing a mask that filters out particles so as to reduce your exposure to prospective allergens which may be present in the air.
If the pollen count is too high then you should stay home and take a leave for a day. If the pollen count is less and the weather seems windy then you should cover your face and hair with a scarf so that your body is protected from these allergy-causing elements. Also, it is better to cover your eyes if you have dry or watery eyes.
Note
The precaution and prevention for weed and grass pollens are the same as listed above for the allergies. Even medicines are the same for both. However, it is suggested to consult a doctor before taking any of the medicine to be on the safer side. No medicine for allergies should be consumed without a proper doctor’s prescription.
How to diagnose a seasonal allergy
Apart from seasonal allergy symptoms listed above, there are few tests you can do to get a true report of your allergic condition. Few things you can do are:
See a doctor first
If you are unsure about your allergy type and the allergy irritates you a lot, it is always recommended to see the doctor for better advice. Sometimes, people are unsure about allergies and can mistake normal allergies to seasonal allergies. This can be fatal later. So, it is better to consult a doctor first. The doctor will be able to determine the severity of the persistent allergy and provide a good diagnosis.
Skin Test
An outgrowth of red itchy bumps on the screen and mucus discharge is enough for a person to know that he or she has some type of allergy. But nasal discharge is examined to see if the person has some allergies which contain a type of white blood known as Eosinophil. This is a sub-dermal test so it may be a little invasive but it is a vital test. It can help you accurately determine what the allergen is and how severe the allergy is.
Treatment of allergy
Different types of seasonal allergy symptoms can be treated differently. Like nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, and skin symptoms will all have different treatments. Check them all out below:
Nasal Symptoms
These symptoms can be treated by nasal sprays. People don’t need a prescription for nasal sprays and are readily available in any pharmaceutical store. They don’t have many side effects but can cause sore mouth and itchy throat. People also use nasal drops which are very similar to nasal sprays and have the same side effects as sprays.
Eye Symptoms
Eye symptoms can be treated using eye drops. Using eye drops is one of the most popular ways of treating eye redness and itchiness caused by pollens. Eye drops usually are less effective and have lots of side effects, so it is better to cover your eyes with glasses when outdoors than using eye drops.
Skin Symptoms
Though various ointments claim they can give relief to allergy caused by pollens but again these ointments are less effective and have more side effects. It is better to apply Aloe Vera gel when home. But as gels are sticky it is not recommended to apply these gels and go outdoors when you have an allergy or the pollen content is high.
it is better to wear full clothes while going outdoors to avoid any seasonal allergy symptoms or rashes in the skin. Such preventive measures can go a long way in repelling allergies and helping you stay in good shape. It’s important to know if and when you suffer from allergies so that you can stay in the pink of health.
Final thoughts
There are a lot of immunosuppressant drugs that can help you combat the symptoms of allergies but these should not be used frequently. They should be used only if the need is dire. These immunosuppressant drugs only combat the symptoms of allergies but don’t eliminate the root cause behind the allergies. If you expect medicines to cure your allergies, then that will not happen. You need to understand that medicines will just help you manage the symptoms better.
There is no sure shot cure for allergies. You should get yourself tested to figure out what you are allergic to. Once this is done, you need to work on reducing your exposure to the allergen and try to eliminate it from your environment. You can keep some immunosuppressants, in the form of inhalers, handy. Over time, you will learn how to deal with allergies and your body may even get desensitized to the allergens if you are lucky enough.
