Why Do They Occur So Often In Spring
The very same thing thats responsible for springs beauty is also responsible for the misery of millions of Canadians. That would be pollen, the microscopic round or oval grains that plants use in lieu of sex to reproduce.
Dont blame flowers. Instead, look to the plain-Jane plants trees, grasses, and weeds. Flowering plants depend on insects to carry their heavier pollen around, while run-of-the-mill plants produce small, light, dry pollen granules that are custom-made for wind transport.
And can they travel! Scientists have found ragweed pollen 640km out at sea and 3 km high in the air. Thats why simply clearing the area around your home of offending plants isnt going to do any good. Plus, theres the sheer quantity of pollen: A single ragweed plant can generate a million grains a day.
Among North American plants, weeds are the most prolific springtime producers of allergenic pollen, with ragweed the major culprit others include sagebrush, redroot pigweed, lambs-quarters, Russian thistle , and English plantain.
Grasses and trees, too, are significant sources of allergenic pollens. Although more than 1,000 species of grasses grow in North America, only a few produce highly allergenic pollen. They include timothy grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, Bermuda grass, redtop grass, orchard grass, and sweet vernal grass. Trees that produce allergenic pollen include oak, ash, elm, hickory, pecan, box elder, and mountain cedar.
Is It An Allergy Or Something Else
If youre suffering from allergy-like symptoms, consider visiting your local CareNow®. The healthcare providers can treatment your symptoms and, if needed, recommend an allergy specialist.
Open after hours, on the weekend and most holidays, CareNow® physicians and nurses are well trained in urgent care services. We accept most insurance plans and offer Web Check-In® so you can avoid the waiting room.
Disclaimer: Patients health can vary. Always consult with a medical professional before taking medication, making health-related decisions or deciding if medical advice is right for you.
How To Tell If You Have Allergies: Symptoms That Only Occur With Allergies
- Itchy Ears and Throat
- Wheezing
- Symptoms have a long duration
If youve never had allergies until now and youre confused about the sudden onset, these symptoms should give you a clear picture of which irritation you are experiencing, a cold or allergies. One of the biggest and easiest determining factors is the duration of the symptoms. A cold will rarely last longer than a couple weeks. If your symptoms are persisting after a month and youre still not sure how to tell if you have allergies, it may be time to consider seeing an allergen specialist. These trained professionals are able to run diagnostic tests on the exact source of your allergic reactions to better prepare you to deal with them properly.
Many allergic reactions can also improve by changing some lifestyle choices. Diet and nutrition can be a key contributing factor to the health of your auto-immune responses.
Wellworks For You offers more great tips on improving diet and lifestyle choices. Check out our blog for more information or call us today at 800.425.4657 to see what wellness programs we offer.
How To Tell If You Have Allergies | How To Tell If You Have Seasonal Allergies
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How To Know If You Have Seasonal Allergies
- How to Know if You Have Seasonal…
Most people can’t wait for winter to be over with and spring to beginuntil their allergies hit. Once the coughing, sneezing, wheezing and itching settle in, springtime can be miserable.
Learning about seasonal allergies can help you minimize the symptoms so you can enjoy the beautiful weather of the season.
You Don’t Have These Symptoms
Colds and allergies share many of the same symptoms, so it can be tough to tell which one you’re going through. Because they share symptoms — such as coughing and congestion — it’s helpful to consider the symptoms that these two conditions don’t share.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, there’s a good chance you have a cold:
- Fatigue
- Severe headache
- Sore throat
Another way to tell the difference between a cold and allergies is the duration of your symptoms. Colds usually go away on their own in seven to 10 days, whereas allergies persist until they’re treated or until the trigger is gone — which can take months depending on what you are allergic to.
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 to go outside.
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What Are Natural Remedies To Help Relieve Allergy Symptoms For Dogs
Just like with humans, figuring out other ways to help relieve allergy symptoms for your dog can take some trial and error.
Here are a few recommendations:
- Fatty acid supplements: These can help soothe itchy and irritated skin, according to the NASC.
- Regular bathing with hypoallergenic shampoos: This can help remove possible allergens like pollen and grass that your dog may come in contact with as part of your daily routine.
- More ways to help: Some people use remedies like tea tree oil, coconut oil, fish oils or other omegas and oatmeal shampoo, according to Carvalho.
At SmartyPaws, our multifunctional health supplements include omega-3 EPA & DHA fatty acids and organic turmeric. These ingredients support a normal inflammatory response and dogs with seasonal and environmental allergies.
We also use additional omegas, including omega-3 ALA from organic chia seeds and alfalfa, to help promote healthy skin, maintain normal moisture content and support animals with sensitive skin.
In addition to providing support for dogs with seasonal and environmental allergies and sensitive skin, our SmartyPaws chews support joint, gut, immune and urinary tract health – all in one easy serving.
How To Know Which Pollens Are Present In The Air
In most areas, pollen is measured and counted, with the different types of pollen identified. This may be reported in terms of trees, weeds, and grasses, or maybe further divided into the types of trees and weeds identified. Specific grasses are not usually identified on pollen counts, as grasses look the same under a microscope.
Find out the pollen counts and types of pollen currently found in your local area.
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Prevention Tips For Seasonal Allergy Season
Dealing with seasonal allergies is a miserable experience. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to prevent and ease your hay fever symptoms. Try these tips:
- Avoid going outdoors when pollen counts are high. You can check your local weather for pollen counts in the morning.
- Seal up your house. Keep your doors and windows shut.
- Replace the air filters on your furnace and air conditioner regularly.
- If you go outside for a long period of time, wash your hair when you come inside. This can help to clear out pollen and other allergens.
- Keep your house vacuumed and dusted regularly. Wear a mask while you vacuum or dust to protect yourself from allergens that get thrown into the air while cleaning.
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Note What Time Allergy Symptoms Occur
Noting the time span and exact time you have these allergic reactions can help you discover the cause. A cold generally lasts between five to seven days. If allergy symptoms last for more than two weeks or for months at a time, you may have a seasonal allergy.
If your symptoms worsen during the spring or fall, when pollen counts are higher, then you are more likely to have a seasonal allergy. If you have allergic reactions around the clock, you should check to see if there are allergens in your environment like dust mites.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies
When symptoms blossom in the spring, look to trees, grass and pollen as likely culprits. And if they flair up in the fall, pay attention to ragweed, another trigger. If youre sensitive to dust or mold, you may be bothered by symptoms year round.
Anessa Alappatt, MD, Fairborn Medical Center, discusses seasonal allergies and symptoms.
Click play to watch the video or read video transcript.
What are seasonal allergies?
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How Pollen Causes Seasonal Allergies
Pollens are tiny, egg-shaped powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are carried by the wind or insects and serve to cross-pollinate other plants of the same type for reproductive purposes. When pollen is present in the air, it can land in a persons eyes, nose, lungs, and skin to set up an allergic reaction. Symptoms may include allergic rhinitis , allergic conjunctivitis , and allergic asthma.
Pollens that are spread by the wind are usually the main cause of seasonal allergies, while pollens that rely on insects to be carried to other plants do not. Most plants with bright, vibrant flowers are insect-pollinated and do not generally cause seasonal allergies since the pollen is not usually present in the air.
Pollen can travel long distances and the levels in the air can vary from day today. The pollen level can be quite different in various areas of a particular city or region. Levels of pollen tend to be highest from early morning to mid-morning, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. Avoidance of pollen can be difficult but is theoretically possible.
Inventory Of The Most Common Types Of Allergens
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What Are Mold Allergies
Mold allergieswhen someone is allergic to the spores of molds or other fungitend to occur over several seasons. For many people, inhaling the spores can cause allergic reactions.
Typically, allergic symptoms from fungus spores are most common from July to early fall, but allergic reactions can happen year-round since fungi grow in many places. While many types of molds exist, there are really only a few dozen that cause allergic reactions.
Symptoms of a mold allergy include sneezing, itching, runny nose, congestion, and dry, scaling skin. To reduce mold in your home, consider using bleach to keep your home mold-free or hire a mold cleanup crew.
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Is It Normal For A 2 Month Old To Sneeze A Lot
Sneezing in newborns is normal. Even if it seems excessive to you, its probably normal since babies tend to sneeze more than adults. However, if your baby is showing other symptoms like a runny nose or fever, they might be sick. Talk to your doctor if you think your baby might have a cold or other infection.
Is It Allergies Or Asthma
Allergies and asthma tend to occur together since the same substances that cause allergies also cause asthma.
There are other types of asthma that have different triggers, including exercise, infections, cold air, gastroesophageal reflux disease or even stress.
Common asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness or pain in the chest, difficulty sleeping, a wheezing sound when breathing, and coughing or wheezing attacks worsened by a respiratory virus.
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Everything You Need To Know About Spring Allergies
Spring is a beautiful time of the year unless you have allergies. Find out how you can tell if you have allergies and how you can relieve your symptoms.
webonFebruary 6, 2019
The beauty of spring is often marked by the sounds of coughing, sniffling, sneezing and wheezing from people struggling with spring allergies. An abundance of flowers, blooming trees, grasses and weeds release pollenthe culprit for those plagued by seasonal allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever.
Clinical Contributors To This Story
Vijay Halari, M.D. contributes to topics such as Family Medicine.
For the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring may mean constant sneezing, watery eyes and itchiness on the roof of the mouth. If youve come to expect these symptoms when pollen goes airborne each year, you may get through the so-called hay fever season by popping over-the-counter allergy pills and trying to stay indoors.
But if youve grown tired of this routine, or if it isnt sufficient, perhaps youve been wondering if seeing a doctor could help to ease some of your discomfort.
How can you tell if you should see a doctor or if you should continue to manage your condition by yourself? Vijay Halari, M.D., a family medicine doctor with Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group in Brick shared some signs that you should consider discussing seasonal allergies with a doctor:
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Can Allergies Cause A Fever
Anytime you become congested, no matter the cause, it leaves you at risk for a bacterial infection. When this occurs, it can result in a fever that lasts for days. If you develop congestion, it can be difficult to identify the cause, since sinusitis, allergies or even the flu virus may be behind it.
Knowing the cause of your symptoms can help you begin an effective treatment plan quickly.
Find The Right Allergy Medication
Although many over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants can help treat hay fever, allergy sufferers should not take them for more than a few days without consulting a doctor.
Antihistamines can ease sniffing, sneezing and itching symptoms by reducing the release of histamine that the body produces in reaction to allergens like pollen. Decongestants are also useful for relieving congestion and swelling in the nasal passages. Eyedrops and nasal sprays can also help. Your doctor will let you know if prescription medicine is advised.
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Seasonal Allergies Vs Common Cold
A common cold has similar symptoms to seasonal allergies. However, a reaction to a cold is caused by a virus, while a reaction to an allergen is the result of the immune system responding to a substance it has deemed as a threat. Learn more about head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat symptoms here.
Five Ways to Tell Your Seasonal Allergies From a Cold5
Colds can produce a fever, allergies can not.
Colds typically dont cause itchy, watery eyes. Allergies typically do.
Cold symptoms arent likely to last more than two weeks, but many people with seasonal allergies will experience symptoms for six weeks at a time.
Sore throats can accompany colds, but rarely occur with allergies.
Colds can occur during any season, while seasonal allergy symptoms will likely appear at the same time each year.
Five Ways to Tell Your Seasonal Allergies From a Cold5
- Colds can produce a fever, allergies can not.
- Colds typically dont cause itchy, watery eyes. Allergies typically do.
- Cold symptoms arent likely to last more than two weeks, but many people with seasonal allergies will experience symptoms for six weeks at a time.
- Sore throats can accompany colds, but rarely occur with allergies.
- Colds can occur during any season, while seasonal allergy symptoms will likely appear at the same time each year.
