When spring is in the air, the proof may be in your watery eyes and relentless sneezing.
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.
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
Contributing factors include genetic predisposition,climate, and environment.
Pollen allergy, also known as hay fever, is one of the most commonseasonal allergies.
Plants release pollen as part of the reproductive process.
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.
Ragweedand 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 allergieshave symptoms all year long.
Some people experience a weird grogginess orbrain fogwith allergy symptoms.
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.
it’s possible for you to also get treatment for moderate to severe symptoms at an urgent care facility.
Anallergy skin testcan 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 testscan also help identify seasonal and perennial allergies.
However, skin testing is more accurate.
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.
Over-the-Counter
Antihistamineswork quickly to reduce symptoms resulting from the release of histamine.
These medicines come in tablet, liquid, and nasal spray forms.
you’re free to use them alone or along with a nasal antihistamine or nasal decongestant.
Oral and nasaldecongestantscan 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 rightover-the-counter allergy treatment.
After several months of slowly raising the dose, you transition to monthly injections for several years.
Chronic Seasonal Allergies: What Helps?
you’re free to start using antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids before allergy season begins.
But it can become a chronic problem.
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.
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Seasonal allergies and your brain.
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