Spring Means Allergy Season

Allergy season depends on where you live and what you’re allergic to because allergens differ by geographic location and from person to person. Someone who is allergic to ragweed may not be allergic to oak. Tree, grass, and other pollens can be allergens, meaning they cause an immune response in some people. Symptoms of allergies include sneezing and coughing, itching around the eyes and throat, and sometimes dermal reactions like redness, itchiness, and irritation.

Most allergy seasons are in late winter or spring. Some, like ragweed, are in late summer and early fall. For more sensitive allergic people, allergy season can last most of the year. People who experience symptoms after spending time indoors or who have symptoms all year might consider whether they’re allergic to indoor triggers like pet dander or dust mites.

Common Pollen Allergens

• Burning bush

• Cocklebur

• Lamb’s-quarters

• Pigweed

• Sagebrush

• Mugwort

• Tumbleweed

• Russian thistle

Other Possible Allergens to Consider

• Smoke

• Bug bites

• Chlorine in pools

• Candy ingredients

• Pine holiday decorations

Treating Your Allergy Symptoms

Your Laurel primary care provider can help you to figure out what’s triggering your symptoms. Knowing your trigger can help you to live more days without allergies by preparing for the season or by getting treatment for allergies. You don’t have to live with allergies, even in season.

Getting Tested

Until you’re tested, there’s not a definite way to know if your allergies are caused purely by the suspected pollen or indoor substance. Many seasonal sufferers have symptoms all year but only notice when the severity increases. Your primary care provider can refer you to the correct specialist to narrow down your triggers and begin a treatment regimen.

Immunotherapy

Allergy shots, known as immunotherapy, can help reduce your reaction to indoor and outdoor allergens. Immunotherapy can make you less allergic to the triggers that are causing your symptoms. Allergy shots expose your body to the substance you’re allergic to in tiny increments, so your body has a chance to get familiar with the substance and begin to tolerate it without triggering the uncomfortable immune response that you’re used to. If you want to get a handle on your allergies and experience more good days, the first step is to visit your primary care provider.

Monitoring and Managing Pollen

Monitoring the pollen count through your weather app is the best way to know how to approach each day with allergies. Radio and television provide this information as well for most areas. Keep your windows and doors closed in your home if you suspect that you’re allergic to an outdoor trigger. Shower regularly to remove any allergens that are stuck to your hair and body after you’ve been outdoors.

Medications

If you must work outdoors during your allergy season, like mowing the lawn or cleaning, wear an effective filtration mask like an N-95. There are also mild allergy medications for daytime and nighttime that you can take to reduce your symptoms on bad days. For more severe cases, your primary care provider or allergist might recommend stronger medications, both over the counter and prescribed. It’s important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for these medications because your body can become accustomed, making your allergic reactions worse when you don’t take the medication. This response makes it difficult for people to stop taking allergy medications in some cases. Some medications can be taken ahead of time to prevent symptoms instead of stopping symptoms after they start.

Allergies in Different Climates

Climate has a huge influence on the type and severity of allergens in your area. Cool nights and warm days will help tree, grass, and ragweed pollens thrive. Heat and humidity help mold grow. Pollen is typically the worst in the morning, so if you’re trying to avoid an allergic reaction to outdoor allergens, you can consider staying indoors until later in the day when the pollen count is high.

Rain washes pollen away, so you can safely venture out in the rain, but pollen counts spike after rainfall, so you’ll want to get indoors quickly when the rain stops. Similarly, when there is no wind, it’s more difficult for airborne allergens to stay airborne. When there is wind, allergies will be increased. There are allergens everywhere, so it’s typically easier to learn how to approach your local allergens, rather than move to an area where you think there will be fewer allergens.

Spring allergies start around February and last into summer. Those with allergies early in the year are probably allergic to tree pollen. After tree pollination comes grass pollination in the late spring and summer. Ragweed, one of the most common allergens, shows up in late summer and fall.

Each pollination period is slightly different for different climates. For example, grass can pollinate throughout most of the year in warmer or tropical climates. Some plants will pollinate early in areas that don’t get too cold in the winter. Those who are allergic to molds might experience an extended allergy season after a particularly wet spring.