Other Ways To Treat Seasonal Allergies
If you have high blood pressure and want to avoid allergy medications, you may get relief from natural allergy relief measures too.
- Drink plenty of fluids to thin out your nasal secretions and make them less sticky.
- Use a sterile saline spray to clean out your nasal passages and remove pollen and other allergens.
- Increase the humidity in your home to keep your nasal passages moist.
- Check the pollen count in your area daily and avoid gardening or spending lots of time outside when its high.
- Maintain a healthy vitamin D level. Some studies show a modest link between maintaining a normal vitamin D level and less allergic-type inflammation in the nasal passages.
- Consume an abundance of fruits and vegetables. A component in fruits and vegetables, called quercetin, has anti- has an anti-inflammatory effect that may reduce the release of histamine in response to allergens.
Tips For Managing A Fever
The average normal body temperature is 98.6º F .
A fever is a body temperature of 100.4° F or greater.
Many things can raise the bodys temperature and cause a fever.
Whether a fever is cause for concern and requires treatment depends on how high the temperature is and any other symptoms.
If you have a fever, you can manage it in the following ways:
- Get plenty of rest. Your immune system is fighting an infection, and rest supports your bodys recovery.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers. These can help to reduce fever and provide comfort for other symptoms. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the most common fever reducers.
- Stay hydrated. An increased body temperature from fever can cause dehydration and increase your bodys need for fluids. Drink water and non-caffeinated beverages throughout the day. You can also drink electrolyte beverages like sports drinks to help replenish electrolytes, which help your cells manage water balance.
If you experience a fever of 104° F or greater, or you have a fever that does not resolve on its own after a few days, seek medical care.
Fever As A Secondary Symptom Of Allergy
When you have a fever along with your allergies it is the sign that something else is going on. The allergic reaction may have produced sinusitis. This is an infection of the sinus cavities and can happen when untreated allergies cause inflammation that prevents the sinuses from draining properly.
The fever you experience isnt because of the allergic reaction. It is because the allergic reaction has resulted in an infection. You may be able to clear the infection with antibiotics, but if the allergies arent treated the infection can return and bring a fever with it.
If your allergies cause inflammation that results in fluid in the ear, you can get an ear infection. In this instance, the fever is a result of the infection of the ear. Its not the allergic reaction that caused the fever its the infection that was caused by the allergic reaction.
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When To See A Doctor
If your fever is above 104°F , contact a doctor immediately. If you have flu symptoms that last more than 10 days or if your symptoms arent improving with OTC medications, you should contact a doctor.
You should also see a doctor if your fever is causing:
- High body heat with no sweat
- Involuntary shivering or shaking
Climate Change Air Pollution And Allergies
Climate change may also have the potential to affect individuals with respiratory allergies by worsening air pollution and air quality. This is especially true for densely-populated cities, where both pollen production and pollution are exacerbated by the heat island effect, where buildings and other surfaces absorb and trap heat.
The continued emission of greenhouse gasses in the environment contributes to the increase in temperature, and therefore, can lead to changes in the relative air humidity and the intensity and frequency of climate events. All of this directly impacts the presence of allergens in the atmosphere, which, in turn, tends to aggravate the symptoms of those who suffer from respiratory allergies.2,6
Alternately, the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may also act as a fertilizer for plants. This fact, combined with other environmental changes , can intensify pollen productionone of the most common respiratory allergens.6,8,11
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How To Manage Allergy Symptoms
The best way to deal with allergy symptoms is to avoid contact with allergens. In addition, try to take any necessary precautions, such as keeping your environment clean, dry, and well-ventilated to help avoid potential triggers at home.1,9
Furthermore, you can focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as bathing regularly to remove allergens from your hair and body at the end of the day. Or, when coming into contact with allergens that trigger allergy flare-ups, try to avoid touching your face or eyes, and washing your hands immediately afterwards. Most importantly, its essential to always consult a doctor or allergist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, which may include OTC oral antihistamines .10
Ones Riskier Than The Other
People can die from severe allergic reactions to certain foods , medications , or materials . Allergic rhinitis , while uncomfortable, is not fatal, Dr. Ditto says. But some of the complications of allergies, such as asthma, can be.
According to the CDC, most cases of COVID-19 are mild, but cases can turn severe, especially if youre older or have other health issues like diabetes or heart disease. Other things to note:
- It can take two to 14 days for COVID-19 symptoms to appear after exposure to the virus. This is called the incubation period.
- COVID-19 is very contagious. It has the ability to spread widely, even in vaccinated people or those without symptoms.
- Interestingly, the number of people affected by seasonal allergies also seem to be on the upswing, due, at least in part, say experts at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology , to climate change.
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Are You Sure Those Are Allergies
Even if you dont have a fever, you should make sure to take good care of yourself. Untreated allergies can cause serious sinus infections and even asthma down the line. If you try to self-medicate, or worse, ignore your symptoms, you could end up doing more harm than good.
Watch out for bad breath, yellow or green mucus, and any chills or hot flashes. It may just be a simple case of the sniffles now, but if you dont speak with your physician about the proper treatment plans, your allergies will cause more than a fever down the line. Final Thoughts:
So, the answer, in short, is yes: allergies can cause fever. However, they dont cause fever in the way you might expect. If youve been struggling with allergies this year, dont brush them off. Make a call to your local Buffalo ENT to discuss your symptoms and possible treatment options. The longer your symptoms go untreated, the worse they could become. So, take care of them today.
The Difference Between Allergies & Colds:
When you have a bacterial or viral infection, your body will trigger an immune response. Chemicals called pyrogens, which are produced by white blood cells, cause the temperature in the body to rise. This is a normal inflammatory response that helps to kill off heat-sensitive bacteria.
Allergens, on the other hand, set off no such reaction. During an allergic reaction, your body releases histamines, which make you sneeze and cough. Histamines are only released during allergic reactions, which is why you shouldnt take anti-histamine medication for the common cold or flu.
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Other Tips For Lessening Nighttime Allergies And Getting Better Sleep
Here are some of our top tips for getting your night allergies under control and your sleep back on track:
- If you think its indoor mold thats worsening your nighttime allergies, make sure you have adequate ventilation in every room of the house. This goes double for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, where humidity levels can change more often.
- For indoor mold allergies, you also want to use dehumidifiers in the above rooms, as these keep too much moisture from forming.
- Make sure your home doesnt have any pipes or roof seals with leaks. If you spot these, get them repaired.
- For those with cockroach allergies, call an exterminator. They can tell you if there are any upstairs gaps where cockroaches can get into your bedroom. For instance, they may squeeze in through a window, a crack in the wall, or a small crevice.
- After youre done spending time with your pet, change clothes and wash the ones you wore while spending time with your animal. Dont bring clothes into your bedroom unless theyre clean.
- If you have a dust mite allergy, wash your sheets and other bedding at a high temperature, at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot water will help remove any lingering mites.
- Make sure you change and clean your bedding every week to keep dust mites away.
- Get plastic or fabric covers for your pillows, box spring, and mattresses so dust mites cant get into your bed.
Can You Get A Fever From An Allergic Reaction
The symptoms of colds and allergies can be confusing. Often, they are very similar. But the one symptom that is never the direct result of an allergic reaction is fever. So, the answer to the question can you get a fever from an allergic reaction is No.
But that doesnt mean that you can have a fever when you are suffering from allergies.
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How You Can Tell The Difference Between Cold And Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
With both allergies and colds, its typical to have congestion or a runny nose, and to sneeze often. You may also feel tired and drowsy. But there are several other symptoms that dont often overlap between allergies and a cold. Here are some of the telltale differences between cold symptoms and allergy symptoms.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Could anything else, such as a cold or the flu, be causing my symptoms?
- How do I figure out what Im allergic to?
- Is my allergy seasonal?
- I am allergic to _____. Am I at risk for any other allergies?
- What changes can I make at home to relieve my symptoms?
- Will any over-the counter medicines relieve my symptoms?
- What should I do if my symptoms get worse or dont respond to the treatment youve prescribed?
- Do I need to see an allergy specialist ?
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Symptoms Lasting Longer Than 10 Days
Rarely will a cold last longer than 10 days. Cold symptoms can linger but should be improving significantly. Cold symptoms will usually come fast and leave fast. Allergies will affect you as long as the excessive post-nasal drip, which can cause your throat to feel rough and uncomfortable.
Still deciding what you’re suffering from? Take our cold or allergies quiz to narrow it down! If you canât determine what youâre suffering from, visit a local allergy expert or your primary care physician, and they can help you determine whatâs affecting you and how you can treat it.
Can Changes In Temperature And Humidity Affect Allergy Symptoms
Environmental factorslike changing seasons, fluctuating temperatures, and higher humidity levelscan affect those who suffer from allergies. For example, when theres a notable increase in air humidity , there tends to be an equal increase in symptom-causing mold in the environment. Mold, a type of microscopic fungus, contains spores thatsimilarly to pollenare released into the air and can trigger a variety of allergy symptoms. Mold spores are at their highest during times of hot, humid weather conditions, and can also be exacerbated by improper cleaning of air conditioning systems.1,5,6
It’s worth noting that a sudden drop in air humidity can also affect your airways, leaving them dry and potentially more vulnerable to react to allergenic substances, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. According to the World Health Organization , the ideal level of relative humidity is between 40% and 70%. Alternately, the body tends to be more susceptible to respiratory illnesses when the index is far below the recommended level .7
Rainfall and heavy winds from thunderstorms can also impact allergy symptoms in those with seasonal allergies in a variety of ways. Since rain typically causes pollen to drop, it can temporarily lessen symptoms, while heavy winds can cause pollen and mold spores to become more airborne and, therefore, more transmissible.1,5
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What Causes Allergy Symptoms & Fever
Regardless of the cause, when you experience nasal congestion, mucus accumulates in your sinuses and can provoke bacterial growth. This bacteria buildup can lead to an infection, which causes a slew of symptoms, including a fever.
Many conditions can cause congestion and other allergy-like symptoms, including sinusitis, the common cold, the flu, or COVID-19. These conditions are easy to confuse with seasonal allergies, so it can be difficult to determine the actual cause of your congestion and fever.
Once you uncover the source of your symptoms, you can treat accordingly. Heres what to look for with each of these congestion and fever-inducing ailments:
Can You Be Allergic To Weather
Most people know that allergy triggers change with the seasons pollen in the spring and fall, allergy-producing plants such as poison ivy all summer and mold in the winter.
But in some rare cases, it’s not weather-driven allergens, such as ragweed, causing trouble, but rather the weather patterns and temperature swings themselves.
Case in point: cold urticaria, or an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. Also known as cold hives, the condition cause redness, itching and swelling after time spent to chilly air, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cold urticaria typically occurs in young adults, who may outgrow it, the Mayo Clinic states on its website. Although it can affect patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. In some cases it can occur spontaneously, and in some cases it can go away in a few years, David Lang, M.D., section head of allergy and immunology at the Cleveland Clinic, told weather.com in 2014.
Cara Yacino who has the condition told weather.com last year a nasty virus spontaneously brought her cold urticaria on age the age of 20, a fairly common way to get the condition. Some other patients are born with it.
She said she gets burning, painful hives after touching something cold, or exposure to air or water.Anti-histamines, plus lots of heavy-duty, cold-weather clothing, can help, she said. She also keeps an EpiPen handy in case her reaction gets out of hand, as sometimes, cold urticaria can cause a deadly anaphylactic reaction.
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What Are The Most Common Allergy Symptoms Again
With seasonal allergies , the substance that the body commonly reacts to is pollen. But indoor mold, the dander from a cat or dog, cigarette smoke, and dust mites can also trigger symptoms, according to the AAAI.
Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- Itching in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes
- Dark circles under the eyes
What Are The Symptoms Of A Fever
Normal body temperature ranges from 97.5°F to 98.9°F . It tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the evening. Most healthcare providers consider a fever to be 100.4°F or higher. High fevers may bring on seizures or confusion in children. It’s not how high the temperature is, but how fast the temperature goes up that causes a seizure.
A fever has other symptoms besides a higher-than-normal temperature. These are especially important when caring for babies, young children, and disabled people. These groups may not be able to express how they feel. Signs that mean fever include:
- Painful, burning, or frequent urination
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Why Are My Allergies Worse At Night
Its the same thing almost every single night. You brush your teeth, finish your nightly routine, climb into bed, and immediately feel congested and sneezy.
If you suffer from allergies, your symptoms most likely get worse at night. This is something you share with other allergy patients. In fact, research shows that 74% of allergy sufferers wake up during the night because of allergy symptoms and over 90% of sufferers have difficulty sleeping.
Cold Vs Allergies: How To Determine The Difference
Do you suspect that you might be sick? Have you been coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose for a few days, but aren’t certain if it’s a cold or allergies? It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and allergies. In fact, many people think they have one when they’ve actually got the other. But it can be crucial to figure out the difference because treatments might vary depending on what’s causing your symptoms.
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