Seasonal allergies kick in when pollen levels and other allergens increase in the air around us. And it looks like things are going to get rougher with climate change affecting pollen season. Plants spread pollen in the air as part of their reproductive cycle, often triggering seasonal allergies. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 60 million people in the US may have symptoms of allergic rhinitis (aka seasonal allergies or hay fever) each year.
Symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose and congestion are caused by the body's overreaction to allergens it perceives as a threat. To reduce symptoms, Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist at NYU Langone Health, recommends avoiding the outdoors early in the morning, as well as opening your windows at that time. She also suggests changing clothes and showering when you get home. You can minimize other indoor allergens by getting dust mite covers, a HEPA air purifier, vacuuming and dusting frequently and washing bedding frequently.
Read more: Allergy Hacks for Pollen Season and Apps to Stay Ahead of the Game
How to treat seasonal allergies
If you're reaching for an over-the-counter medication, make sure it's the right one by asking your pharmacist or doctor for their recommendation on an antihistamine or over-the-counter medication. A stuffy nose caused by allergies has a different cause than one caused by a cold, so you need to target your symptoms and their cause specifically.
If you have severe allergies, your doctor may prescribe a nasal steroid spray or allergy shots to dampen symptoms.
It's always a good idea to try your best to avoid your allergy triggers, but that doesn't mean you have to hole up inside with a box of tissues. Parikh shares a few ways to get ahead of allergy season:
- Take OTC antihistamines like Allegra, steroid nasal sprays, antihistamine nasal sprays and eyedrops.
- If you're prone to asthma, start your preventative inhalers as soon as possible. Parikh told CNET that "It's much easier to control symptoms proactively, and asthma can be dangerous if uncontrolled. If you don't know what to take, see a board-certified allergist to help you."
- When you come home from outside, change your clothes and take a shower to wash pollen off and decrease your exposure.
- Avoid being outside in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest, and keep windows closed early morning for the same reason.
Other ways to lessen allergy symptoms:
- Use an air purifier if you're sensitive to indoor allergens.
- Wear a dust mask while doing yard work.
- Check your local weather network for pollen forecasts.
4 ways to tell you have seasonal allergies
The type of pollen and how much there is largely depends on where you live. In addition to affecting the nose, pollen can cause inflammation in other areas. It's estimated that seven out of 10 people who experience nasal allergy symptoms also experience itchy, red or watery eyes. Here's how to know if your symptoms are allergy-related or not and ways to find relief.
Common allergy symptoms you may experience
If you think of sneezing and watery eyes when you think of seasonal allergies, you'd be on the right track. There's a good chance you have seasonal allergies if you experience any of the following common symptoms:
- Frequent sneezing
- Watery or itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Congestion in your nose, ears or chest
- Postnasal drip
- Itchy throat
- Puffy eyelids
Most seasonal allergies are caused by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. If you have winter allergies, you're probably allergic to an indoor allergen like dust mites.
Rare allergy symptoms you may experience
The symptoms above are extremely common, but your allergies might show up differently. These less common symptoms may also indicate seasonal allergies:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Sudden lack of exercise endurance
- Mild headache
Read more: 5 Ways an Air Purifier Will Boost Your Health
Symptoms you shouldn't experience
Remember, some of the symptoms in the first two sections may also be symptoms of a cold or the flu, so if you feel under the weather, you should visit your doctor or get tested for COVID-19. Parikh says that some symptoms are identical, like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, dry cough and wheezing.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, there's a good chance you have a cold, COVID-19 or another virus:
- Fatigue
- Aches and pains throughout your body
- Weakness
- Severe headache
- Sore throat (different from the itchiness caused by allergies)
If you know you're allergic to pollen, you can try an app like Zyrtec AllergyCast to check the pollen counts and see if it's a good idea (or not) to go outside.
Symptoms that show up seasonally
If you have seasonal allergies, your symptoms likely arise and go away around the same time each year. For most people, seasonal allergy symptoms begin in the spring and end in the fall. You may experience allergic rhinitis in any of the four seasons, depending on your allergy triggers. Parikh shared that these plants commonly cause seasonal allergies:
Spring: Grasses, such as ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy grass and Bermuda grass, and tree pollen, particularly from oak, elm, birch, cedar, willow, poplar, horse chestnut and alder trees.
Summer: Weed pollens like mugwort and pigweed.
Fall: Pollen from weeds is the main concern in the fall months. Many people are allergic to the pollen in ragweed, tumbleweed, pigweed, sagebrush, Russian thistle and other plants.
Winter: Most people find their allergies dormant during the winter months because most plants don't pollinate during winter. If you still get watery eyes and a runny nose during cold weather, you might be allergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, mold or animal dander.