Seasonal Allergies: Triggers, Symptoms, and Effective Management

Allergies are often seasonal and commonly flare up during specific times of the year. While some patients experience mild allergy symptoms that subside eventually, in other cases, the symptoms can interfere with their ability to work, socialize, and breathe normally. Learn how to manage allergy symptoms during the seasonal transitions each year.

What Triggers Allergies?

Allergy symptoms manifest due to an unnatural immune system response. The immune system's job is to fight off disease and infections, but in some cases, it overcompensates, creating undesirable reactions in the body. Common symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itching, drippy eyes, and congestion in the throat or nose.

Common Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies, also called allergic rhinitis or hay fever, are most prevalent during certain months of the year, generally the spring and fall. They also flare up during windy conditions because allergens float more in the air. These are some of the most common forms of seasonal allergies:

• Pollen (including tree, grass, and ragweed).
• Bug bites and dust mites.
• Mold and fungus in the air.

How to Manage Allergy Symptoms

The best way to keep allergies under control is to learn your specific triggers and anticipate and avoid them during the seasons as they transition. Weather apps and channels often publish information about pollen counts. You must take additional actions to wipe pollen from your clothes, shoes, and surfaces (indoors and outdoors). It’s advisable to stay indoors whenever possible and to wipe down any pets who spend time outdoors. Immediate symptom relief is possible with antihistamines, nasal sprays, and fast-action medicine like asthma inhalers. In the long term, you could manage allergies successfully through immunotherapy. The immune system can be trained with continual exposure to small amounts of the allergen.

See an Allergist for Solutions

An allergist is a doctor who specializes in helping patients identify the triggers for their allergies and how to resolve the short- and long-term symptoms. Schedule time to see an allergist today so that you can get control of your allergies.