Do Seasonal Allergies Make You Cough

Debunking Myths About Seasonal Allergies And Covid

• Health & Wellness

The weather is finally getting warmer, and as the flowers begin to bloom individuals with asthma and allergies are feeling the effects. Mold counts are high all throughout parts of the country that have experienced unprecedented rainfall and flooding. Those of us with allergies are watching the pollen levels and mold levels rise throughout the country and experiencing the symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, cough and even allergic asthma symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath.

This year, these common symptoms may be even more worrisome as the COVID-19 virus continues to be top of mind across the country. Dr. Juanita Mora, American Lung Association spokesperson and allergist/immunologist at the Chicago Allergy Center, spoke with us about how to tell the difference between typical allergy symptoms and COVID-19, and how to protect yourself during this confusing time.

Q: How do allergy symptoms differ from COVID-19 symptoms?

A: Allergy symptoms typically include itchy eyes, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, sneezing. COVID-19 symptoms may include fever, cough, chills, body aches and loss of taste or smell. Discuss with your doctor any concerns you have about new symptoms you worry could be COVID-19 or if you have been exposed to someone that currently has COVID-19. You can learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19 on American Lung Association website.

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Dont Freak Out If Allergies Get Worse

Due to fluctuations in pollen levels every year, its totally normal if your allergies are mild one year and then worse the next, Rampur says.

But what if youve never had seasonal allergies before and you suddenly get them? This is also common.

First, if youve recently moved to the area, you could develop allergies as your immune system adjusts to the new pollens youre exposed to. Typically how this works is your allergies wont develop until your second or third year in a new place, Ayars says.

If other people in your family have allergies, its possible you will develop them at some point, too. While its more common for allergies to begin developing in childhood or ones teenaged years, Ayars still sees plenty of patients who start getting a new allergy in adulthood.

Another thing that could make you more susceptible to seasonal allergies is having another medical condition linked to your immune system, such as asthma or eczema.

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Cough: Allergies Or Covid

A cough can cause anxiety these days. It can be easy to start you thinking the worst. And you only need to clear your throat in the grocery store to draw the attention of other patrons. But a cough is not always an illness.

Yes, allergies can also cause coughing. Along with the typical sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and hives, allergens, especially hay fever allergens, can irritate the throat and lungs and cause us to cough. The allergen causes a post-nasal drip that travels down your throat, causing irritation that can lead to a persistent dry cough. Its still something you should have checked out because a cough could also be a symptom of asthma.

Allergies occur when the body sees a harmless substance, such as pollen or cat dander, as a threat, said Robert Kocur, MD, allergist with OSF HealthCare. In response, the immune system builds antibodies to fight off the threatening substance.

Allergies are some of the most common chronic health conditions in the world and can affect anyone. Generally, allergies are more common in children but can happen at any age. Allergies may also go away and can come back after years of remission.

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How To Treat An Allergy Cough

Oral antihistamines are the first-line treatment for allergy symptoms, blocking the underlying mechanisms that can lead to an allergy cough.

Second-generation antihistamines are the preferred option because they are less likely to cause drowsiness. With that said, first-generation antihistamines like Benadryl may be a good option before bedtime if allergy symptoms are interfering with sleep.

To treat the cough itself, you can consider the following options:

• Take an over-the-counter expectorant like Mucinex to loosen phlegm.
• Use an over-the-counter decongestant Sudafed to open nasal passages.
• Use a nasal steroid spray like Nasacort to relieve inflammation and ease breathing,
• Suck on a cough lozenge, especially ones containing eucalyptus.
• Use a saline nasal spray or irrigation, like a neti pot, to clear nasal passages.
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer to help moisturize the air.
• Inhale steam either with a commercial inhaler or a heated pot of water to loosen mucus and ease throat irritation.

Its Important To Minimize Exposure

Allergy testing can help identify whats triggering your allergies. Additional testing can help to confirm a diagnosis of asthma.

Once you know you have allergic asthma, identifying and avoiding its triggers will help you control your symptoms. When possible, take measures to prevent or minimize exposure, advises Dr. Purcell.

The same methods wont work for all allergy triggers. For example, dust mites are not airborne but cat and dog dander is, he says.

To reduce allergens in your home, Dr. Purcell recommends:

• Minimizing or eliminating pet exposure.
• Using special dust mite covers on bedding and aiming for indoor humidity levels of 35 percent to minimize dust mite exposure.
• Eliminating food sources for cockroaches by using sealed food containers and regularly cleaning kitchen floors and surfaces.
• Changing clothes and showering after you come inside if youre allergic to pollen, and closing doors and windows when pollen counts are high.

Although mold is more of an outdoor allergen, it can develop indoors . Addressing the water leak, then using a diluted bleach solution or a commercial cleaning product is usually sufficient, says Dr. Purcell.

Extensive mold intrusion may require a professional mold removal service.

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What Is An Allergy Test

An allergist performs tests to pinpoint the cause of your allergic reactions.

There are two kinds of tests:

• Skin tests: The doctor pricks the surface of the skin, usually on the upper arm, and injects a tiny amount of suspected allergens. If an allergy exists, the skin will react by becoming inflamed, red and swollen, which may cause temporary discomfort. Skin tests give fast resultsusually within a half hour or 24 to 48 hours.
• Blood tests: Blood is drawn and sent to a lab. The disadvantage is that it may take several days for the results to come back. However, more allergens can be tested with blood tests than with skin tests, Blood tests are used to identify seasonal allergies as well as perennial allergies, plus allergies to food, medications, and insect bites or stings. If you have chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, blood tests are recommended instead of skin tests to prevent further irritation.

Its important to tell your allergist about any medications you are taking because some can compromise your allergy test results.

Is That Cough Covid

As those of us who are accustomed to sniffling, coughing and sneezing our way through spring and summer already know, its allergy season. But during a respiratory pandemic, those coughs could signal something more than a high pollen count.

According to allergist and immunologist Dr. Juanita Mora of the Chicago Allergy Center, the only symptom seasonal allergies and COVID-19 have in common is cough.

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When Does Allergy Season Start

There is no official beginning to allergy season. It really depends on what triggers your allergy symptoms.

Many people find spring allergies particularly problematic. In many parts of the United States, this is when trees bloom again and release pollen into the air. If you are a person who is allergic to grasses or hay, summer may be when you struggle. And for others, fall sees the emergence of ragweed pollen which may trigger allergy symptoms.

If molds, dust mites and other indoor allergens are your allergy trigger, then you may see the peak of your seasonal allergies all year long. The key is to understand when your symptoms normally begin. This will help determine what may trigger your allergic reactions.

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.

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How To Treat An Allergy Cough At Home

Some ways to treat an allergy cough at home include:

• Taking over-the-counter medications: Allergy medicines, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants, can help reduce the inflammation and mucus production that can lead to a cough.
• Using a humidifier or inhaling steam from a shower:Humidifiers can help clear congestion and soothe throat irritation.
• Using an air purifier: A high-quality air purifier can help reduce the number of allergens and irritants in the air inside a persons home or office space.
• Taking prescription medications: Nasal sprays and antihistamines can help alleviate an allergic cough affecting the upper respiratory tract. Inhalers are usually needed to treat an allergic cough affecting the lower airways.

Seasonal Allergies: Symptoms Peak Times And Management

As many as 60 million Americans live with seasonal allergies. If you find yourself with itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and coughing during a particular season, then you may have seasonal allergies.

You do not have to suffer and avoid the outdoors. Many allergy treatments are available.

Understanding what is causing your allergy symptoms is crucial. Then you can partner with your healthcare provider to develop a plan to treat your symptoms.

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Dust Mite Allergy Often Strikes In Bed

Allergy immunotherapy means either regular injections at the doctor’s office or taking tablets under your tongue first at the doctor’s office and then at home. Treatment takes three to five years. Youll need to complete the full course even if your allergy cough disappears sooner. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it might be right for you.

Can Allergies Cause Fever

The short answer is allergies dont cause fever. But, allergy symptoms can make you more vulnerable to a viral or bacterial infection, which can lead to a fever. So, its common to blame a fever on your allergies, even though technically that isnt the cause.

Allergies are caused when your immune system overreacts to common things in the environment such as tree and grass pollen of common dust mites in your home. The typical allergy symptoms most people experience include:

• off-gasses from materials such as rubber, canvas, and leather
• air pollution, such as car exhaust

Also, the excrement, saliva, and shells of cockroaches are highly common allergens. An estimated 63 percent of households in the United States contain cockroach allergens. In urban areas, the rates can reach 98 percent.

A 2015 study found that roughly 18 percent of children aged under 17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with hay fever, especially in southwestern and southeastern states.

If a primary care doctor suspects that a person has hay fever, they will usually refer the person to an allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergies.

An allergist will ask questions about lifestyle habits, home and work environments, medical history, and symptoms, then perform a physical exam of the nose and throat.

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Check If You Have Hay Fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• pain around your temples and forehead

If you have asthma, you might also:

• have a tight feeling in your chest
• be short of breath
• wheeze and cough

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

Do I Ever Need To Worry About A Cough

Something important to remember: A coughno matter its causeshouldnt be your norm.

Colds usually run their course within a couple of weeks, which means a cough associated with a cold should go away in about three weeks time , according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The length of an allergy-related cough will vary depending on how you’re treating it.

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But if you notice youre still barking after two months of symptoms, see your doc. You could either be dealing with an allergy youre not aware of or potentially suffering from another issue such as asthma , reflux, pneumonia, or bronchitis, says Dr. Bryson.

And if something is bothering you enough to disrupt your life, don’t put off getting it checked out. If nothing else, seeing a doc will give you peace of mind and maybe even speed up your recovery time.

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Does Having Allergies Put Me A Greater Risk For Contracting Covid

Having allergies does not put you at greater risk for contracting COVID-19, says Dr. Barnes. Its your behaviors that put you at greater risk.

To reduce your risk, continue using safe practices when you are away from your home if you are not vaccinated against COVID-19. These include wearing a face mask, social distancing, limiting large social gatherings and the use of hand sanitizers and frequent hand washing.

What Does An Allergy Cough Sound Like In A Dog

There are some sounds that the dog is going to experience if it has an allergy. When your dog has an allergy it could produce a horrible sound, like the goose honking in its sleep. In addition to that, your dog could gag. Gagging is a term that is used to describe a sound that is made before a cough. It looks like the dog wants to vomit, and at the same time, it wants to cough.

Thus, you should carefully inform your vet whether the dog is gagging, vomiting, or coughing. Whereas you may think that any of them will signify an allergy, you should leave this decision to the doctor, and he or she is going to advise you accordingly on the best course of action.

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Find Out What Youre Allergic To

In order to treat your allergies, you have to know what youre up against.

An allergy test can help identify substances that trigger allergic reactions in your body. These substances, known as allergens, can be things you breathe in, things you touch, or things you eat.

A skin prick allergy test involves exposing the skin on your arm or back to small amounts of allergens to then see what you react to. These tests are typically done in a single sitting, and youll get results right away.

A blood allergy test can also check for allergens and is useful if you take a medication that can interfere with results or if your doctor suspects you may have a severe allergic reaction to even a tiny amount of an allergen.

How Can You Tell That You Have An Allergy Cough

In order to tell whether you have an allergy cough, its important to check what type is it. Allergies trigger a dry or wet cough even though after nasal dripping, theres usually a dry cough. There is also a third kind of cough which is the chronic cough that lasts at least 3 weeks. This is a major sign of an allergy. A cold cough never lasts more than 14 days so if your coughing exceeds this number, you definitely have an allergy cough. Another thing that sets it apart from a cold is the fever. If you have no fever then you definitely have been exposed to an allergen thats caused this coughing symptom.

If youre still confused about it then you should ask yourself questions like when did you start coughing? Do you feel any fever or aches in your body? How long have you been coughing? All of these will bring everything into perspective for you.

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What Causes Wheezing In People With Allergies

Allergies occur when the body reacts abnormally to certain substances that are otherwise harmless. When the body comes into contact with these substances, the immune system begins producing antibodies. This leads to the production of other chemicals in the body, like histamine. These chemicals cause allergy symptoms along with inflammation. The reason the body attacks some substances in some people but not others isnt fully understood.

For some people, allergic reactions affect the lungs and airways. This can lead to asthma symptoms, including wheezing.

Wheezing can sometimes be a sign of a serious problem. Call your doctor if:

• youre experiencing wheezing, even mild wheezing, for the first time
• your wheezing is recurrent
• youre wheezing but have no history of allergies

You should get immediate emergency care if the wheezing:

• is accompanied by difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, or bluish skin color
• starts suddenly after youre stung by a bee, have taken medication, or have eaten an allergy-causing food
• starts after you choke on a small object or piece of food
• is accompanied by hives or swelling of your lips or face

Is Coughing A Symptom Of Allergies

If you have a chronic cough, youre not alone. Coughing is a symptom of seasonal allergies, and more than 50 million Americans deal with allergies every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1 . Once you identify allergies as your coughs source, your doctor can recommend various medications to treat it.

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