How to Manage Seasonal Allergies
What are the active months?
Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MDMedically reviewed by Daniel More, MD
When spring is in the air, the proof may be in your watery eyes and relentless sneezing. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a fairly common problem caused by outdoor and indoor allergens (normally harmless substances the immune system recognizes as foreign).
Changing seasons can increase your exposure to pollen and other allergens that cause these symptoms. Depending on your triggers, you may have symptoms in spring, fall, or all year long.
This article discusses chronic and severe symptoms of seasonal allergies and how to manage them.
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
Quick Allergy Relief to Subside Symptoms
For quick allergy relief, over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications are often effective. They include:
Antihistamines such as Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Nasal antihistamine spray, such as Astepro Allergy (azelastine hydrochloride)
Antihistamine/mast cell stabilizing eye drops, such as Alaway or Zaditor (ketotifen), Pataday (olopatadine), and Lastacaft (alcaftadine)
Prescription medications are also available, and it may be worth seeing an allergist or other healthcare provider. Some medications can be taken before symptoms start so you can avoid the worst of it.
Allergies and Seasons: The Link
Seasonal allergens can include tree, grass, and weed pollens, molds, animals, and dust mites. Contributing factors include genetic predisposition, climate, and environment.
Pollen allergy, also known as hay fever, is one of the most common seasonal allergies. Plants release pollen as part of the reproductive process. As pollen grains ride the wind, they find their way to your nose, eyes, and throat and settle on surfaces. You are less likely to have an allergic reaction to pollen carried by bees and other insects.
Depending on where you live, prime tree pollen season runs from February to May. However, in the Southern states, some trees begin producing pollen in January, and some trees have more than one peak pollen-producing time during the year. Aspen, cedar, cottonwood, and juniper may pollinate as early as December in the dry climates of the Southwest.
Among the trees most likely to cause allergy symptoms are:
Alder
Ash
Aspen
Beech
Birch
Box elder
Cedar
Cottonwood
Elm (pollinates in the fall)
Hickory
Juniper
Maple
Mulberry
Oak
Olive
Pecan
Poplar
Walnut
Willow
Grass pollen is more likely to affect you from April to June. In the United States, grasses release pollen in late spring or early summer in the North and throughout the year in Southern states.
Ragweed and other weed pollens generally appear from July to November. Ragweed is virtually everywhere and can travel hundreds of miles in the air.
Despite the seasonal fluctuations, more than two-thirds of people with allergies have symptoms all year long.
Symptoms: How Seasonal Allergies Make You Feel
Seasonal allergy symptoms can include
Itchy ears
Itchy roof of your mouth, itchy or sore throat
Itchy, runny, or stuffy nose
Sneezing
Teary, red, puffy, or itchy eyes
Beyond these typical symptoms, seasonal allergies can make you cough and feel tired or fatigued, much like having a bad cold. They can interfere with sleep and affect overall quality of life.
Some people experience a weird grogginess or brain fog with allergy symptoms. This may be a response to inflammation by the immune system, which triggers the release of histamines and other chemicals.
Seasonal allergies are also associated with co-morbidities (co-occurring health conditions) such as:
Chronic middle ear infection with hearing loss (otitis media)
Partial or full loss of smell (anosmia)
Dental deformities in children
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if your attempts to manage seasonal allergies aren't providing adequate relief or if symptoms are getting worse. It's important to rule out other potential causes.
If you do have allergic rhinitis, your provider can help identify triggers and recommend the most effective treatments. You can also get treatment for moderate to severe symptoms at an urgent care facility.
Rarely, exposure to seasonal allergens can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Seek immediate medical assistance if you have signs of anaphylaxis, such as:
Fainting
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Rapid heart rate
Swelling
Trouble breathing
Is It Seasonal Allergies or Something Else?
An allergy skin test can help determine if you have seasonal allergies. Your provider will prick the surface of your skin and inject a small amount of an allergen. If you're allergic, your skin will react by getting inflamed.
Blood tests can also help identify seasonal and perennial allergies. However, skin testing is more accurate.
Differential diagnoses may include:
Viral nonallergic rhinitis, or the common cold: Symptoms are similar but usually resolve within five to seven days.
Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, an infection of the nasal cavity and sinuses: Symptoms can last longer than 10 days and may include fever.
Vasomotor rhinitis: This type of nonallergic rhinitis can be triggered by exercise, hormonal changes, or pregnancy.
Seasonal Allergy Treatment Options
You cannot always avoid triggers, but there are several ways to manage symptoms.
Home Remedies
Nasal irrigation with saline may help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms.
Some research suggests that being dehydrated can stimulate the immune system to release histamine. Drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated may help reduce allergy symptoms.
Histamine in Allergies
With an allergy, your immune system becomes sensitized to allergens. The immune system reaction triggers the histamine release when exposed to the allergen. Histamine causes some symptoms you experience, like itchy eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, and cough. Antihistamine drugs address these symptoms.
Over-the-Counter
Antihistamines work quickly to reduce symptoms caused by the release of histamine. These medicines come in tablet, liquid, and nasal spray forms. Be sure to read the label for dosing instructions, as some antihistamines can have side effects such as drowsiness.
Tolerance
Over time, some people develop a tolerance to antihistamines and they no longer work as well as they once did. Your provider may recommend increasing the dose, taking a break from that particular medication, or switching to a different one.
Nasal corticosteroid sprays such as Flonase (fluticasone) and Nasacort Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone) reduce inflammation and help relieve symptoms such as runny nose and congestion. You can use them alone or along with a nasal antihistamine or nasal decongestant.
Oral and nasal decongestants can help relieve nasal stuffiness but should be used sparingly. Using decongestant nose sprays for more than a few days at a time can actually make congestion worse.
A pharmacist or healthcare provider can help you choose the right over-the-counter allergy treatment.
Prescribed
If needed, your provider can prescribe oral, nasal, and ophthalmic antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids.
Allergy shots are another option. This is a form of immunotherapy that involves weekly injections of the allergen so that you develop a tolerance. After several months of slowly raising the dose, you transition to monthly injections for several years.
Another method involves placing a dissolving tablet under your tongue every day, starting a few months before and continuing throughout pollen season. This is only available for grass and ragweed allergies.
Chronic Seasonal Allergies: What Helps?
You can start using antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids before allergy season begins. This can help build long-term effectiveness and reduce symptoms. Other ways to be proactive include:
Monitor pollen (or mold spore) counts so you know what to expect.
Keep windows and doors closed during allergy season. Use an air-conditioner if you can.
Drive with your car windows closed.
Don't hang clothes outside to dry.
Use an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to lower the pollen count indoors. A new HEPA filter can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, such as pollen, mold, and dust.
Have your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system cleaned and serviced regularly.
What Makes Going Outside With Allergies Easier
Try not to spend too much time outdoors when pollen or mold counts are highest or when it's particularly windy. When you need to go outside:
Wear sunglasses outdoors to help protect your eyes from pollen.
Try to avoid freshly mowed grass, heavily wooded areas, and yard work that kicks up pollen.
When working outdoors, wear an N95 mask (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-rated 95 face mask), which filters at least 95% of airborne particles.
Shower, wash your hair, and change clothes after spending time outside.
Summary
Seasonal allergies tend to flare up in spring and fall. But it can become a chronic problem. Though you can't completely avoid allergens, you can be proactive about managing your exposure and symptoms.
Tracking daily pollen counts is a good place to start. In advance of pollen season, it may help to begin taking antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids.
Chronic allergy symptoms can become a quality-of-life issue. If they're keeping you up at night or interfering with your day, see an allergist or other healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
