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How Do You Know If You Have Seasonal Allergies

Be Mindful Of Your Soft Surfaces

Seasonal Allergies or Sinusitis? – SLUCare Health Watch

Most helpful for: Pet dander and dust mites

We dont want to gross you out, but pet dander and dust mites love soft surfaces. This includes carpeting, curtains, bedding, towelsyou get the idea. The American Lung Association estimates that hundreds of thousands of dust mites are living in these cushy materials.

Is your skin crawling? Ours too. But, this speaks to the importance of washing your soft surfaces frequently in hot water.

It can also be helpful to replace some of the soft surfaces in your home. For example, use blinds rather than curtains. Or, rip up the carpet and put in hard flooring instead. Those arent feasible for everybody. So, then your next best option is washing and vacuuming on a regular basis.

Next Steps & Resources:

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

Is It Fall Allergies Or Covid

Angela Underwood’s extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder.

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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.

What Is A Dust Mites Allergy

What Exactly Is a Pollen Allergyand How Do You Know if ...

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that typically live in house dust, and they can cause allergic reactions. Symptoms of dust mite allergies are similar to hay fever and include sneezing runny nose itchy, red or watery eyes nasal congestion postnasal drip cough and facial pressure and pain.

It is common to also experience symptoms of asthma, like wheezing and trouble breathing.

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How To Treat Seasonal Allergies

In most cases, an over-the-counter antihistamine and decongestant will do the trick. If you have severe allergies, however, your doctor may prescribe nasal steroid spray or allergy shots to dampen symptoms.

It’s always a good idea to try your best to avoid your triggers, but that doesn’t mean you have to hole up inside with a box of tissues. To get less exposure to your allergens:

  • Keep your windows shut when your allergies are active
  • 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
  • Take a shower and wash your hair at the end of each day to get rid of pollen that attached to your clothes, hair and skin

Clear Signs You Have Seasonal Allergies

Dont confuse allergies with a head cold.

For some people, just the thought of being outside during spring or summer makes them want to sneeze.

Some people love spring and summer: Blooming flowers, warm sunshine and chirping birds are a welcome arrival for many people after the dark and cold winter months. For about 8% of American adults, though, the change of seasons spells misery.

Those 20 million people deal with allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergies, a condition caused when your immune system reacts to something in the environment. In most cases, that something is pollen from trees, grasses and weeds.

Commonly called hay fever, seasonal allergies actually have nothing to do with hay or fevers. That misnomer comes from a long-gone era when symptoms would strike during hay harvests in late summer and early fall, before medical professionals knew what allergies were.

Think you might have seasonal allergies? See how your symptoms match up against these four big signs.

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Keep Your Asthma In Check

While difficulty breathing and shortness of breath have been symptoms associated with coronavirus, it can also be signs of asthma that can flare up with the allergy season. If you dont have a fever present with these symptoms, asthma could be the culprit.

People with asthma need to stay on top of their treatment, says Dr. Benninger, especially since people with respiratory issues are at a higher risk of potentially severe illness from coronavirus. Whether its inhalers or nasal sprays, its important to be up to date on their medication and proper usage.

Dr. Benninger also recommends starting allergy medications early in the allergy season rather than waiting for the worst part.

If you can prevent the symptoms from worsening, then youre much more likely to have less difficulty when you get to the time of the season when allergies tend to get out of control, he says.

Rule Out Other Conditions

How do I know if I have seasonal allergies or a cold?

Some disorders are often misdiagnosed as food allergies. Also, food intolerance is often confused with allergies. Food intolerance is your body’s response to what you eat. For example, people who are lactose-intolerant react to milk products. As a result, they experience abdominal pain due to gas. Although the symptoms may be similar to those of a food allergy, they should not be confused.

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Start Treatment Before Fall Allergies Start

Hereâs some advice: See a doctor soon. Donât wait until the symptoms hit tostart getting treatment. The best way to get relief from runny noses and itchy,watery eyes is to prevent them before they start.

Doctors advise starting your allergy medicines in late summer, since fallweed pollens start increasing during August and into September and last untilthe first frost, according to Dan Atkins, MD, director of ambulatory pediatricsat National Jewish Medical & Research Center in Denver.

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How Do I Know If I Have Year

Theres a pretty telltale sign that you have year-round allergies : Youll experience allergy symptoms throughout the year, on a pretty consistent basis.

What types of signs should you be on the lookout for? As the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology explains, typical symptoms include:

  • itchy and watery eyes
  • runny nose
  • sneezing

Many people also experience fatigue with their allergiesmostly due to the fact that its hard to get a good nights sleep when you cant breathe through your nose and your eyes feel like theyre made of sandpaper.

These symptoms mirror the symptoms of seasonal allergies. However, again, the most important thing to pay attention to is timing.

If you experience a flare-up of your allergy symptoms during a certain point each year, then youre dealing with seasonal allergies. If you notice these signs all throughout the year, then its perennial allergies. Note that both types of allergies are often referred to as hay fever .

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Choosing The Right Allergy Medicine

Sometimes, you may need a combination of these medications to resolve all your allergy symptoms, but you should check in with your doctor first.

If over-the-counter medication doesnât resolve your allergy symptoms, your doctor may also recommend a stronger version of these drugs, which may require a prescription.

Make sure that youâre following all the label instructions before taking any medication. While allergy medicine does expire, you may be able to use oral tablets well after the expiration date.

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What If It’s Coronavirus Symptoms

How to Tell Whether You Have a Cold or Allergies

can look similar to seasonal allergies, but often include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. A subset of patients may complain of not being able to taste or smell, or experience diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you don’t have any of these symptoms, it might just be seasonal allergies.

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What Is The Treatment For Pollen Allergy

Certain over-the-counter and prescription medicines may help reduce pollen allergy symptoms.

  • Antihistamines come in pill, liquid or nasal spray form. They can relieve sneezing and itching in the nose and eyes. They also reduce a runny nose and, to a lesser extent, nasal stuffiness.
  • are available as pills, liquids, nasal sprays or drops. They help shrink the lining of the nasal passages and relieve nasal stuffiness. Use decongestant nose drops and sprays only on the short-term.
  • Nasal corticosteroids are a type of nasal spray. They reduce inflammation in the nose and block allergic reactions. They are the most effective medicine type for allergic rhinitis because they can reduce all symptoms, including nasal congestion. Nasal corticosteroids have few side effects.
  • Leukotriene receptor antagonists block the action of important chemical messengers that are involved in allergic reactions.
  • Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that blocks the release of chemicals that cause allergy symptoms, including histamine and leukotrienes. This medicine has few side effects, but you must take it four times a day.

Many people with pollen allergy do not get complete relief from medications. This means they may be candidates for immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that can help prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions. It can change the course of allergic disease by modifying the bodys immune response to allergens.

What Is A Pollen Allergy

Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Many people know pollen allergy as hay fever. Experts usually refer to pollen allergy as seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Each spring, summer and fall, plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses. These plants make small, light and dry pollen grains that travel by the wind.

Grasses are the most common cause of allergy. Ragweed is a main cause of weed allergies. Other common sources of weed pollen include sagebrush, pigweed, lambs quarters and tumbleweed. Certain species of trees, including birch, cedar and oak, also produce highly allergenic pollen.

Plants fertilized by insects, like roses and some flowering trees, like cherry and pear trees, usually do not cause allergic rhinitis.

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Should I Be More Worried About Allergens Inside Or Outside My House

Thats a great question. Indoor air pollution is often much worse than outdoor air pollution, and many people develop allergies to the molds, dust mites, pet dander, and other microscopic pollutants so common inside buildings. But we also know that pollen is the #1 cause of spring allergies. We say, dont worrybe proactive about allergies. If you have one, figure out what is causing it. Once you diagnose what the allergen is, you can best figure out how to minimize its presence in your life, whether it resides indoors or outside.

Allergies Do Not Cause Fevers

What you need to know about spring allergies and COVID-19

People often wonder if allergies can cause a fever. The answer is no. Allergies cannot cause a fever, though you could have an allergy flare at the same time youre experiencing a fever from another infection.

With a cold, your temperature can run warmer, but typically it will be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

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What Do Different Phlegm Colours Mean

Although research does suggest that the colour of phlegm is not a good indicator of significant infection in people with acute coughs who are feeling well, coughing up coloured phlegm might suggest a bacterial infection and may warrant advice from a health professional. Many people believe that having green or yellow mucus running from the nose means an infection is present whereas it is often a sign of simple dehydration or a harmless viral infection. We look at what the various colours of phlegm might mean:

Clear phlegm

This is the most common colour of phlegm and is usually triggered by an irritant, an allergy or a simple viral infection. Typical causes include allergic rhinitis and upper airway viral infections such as a or viral bronchitis and clear phlegm is generally not as thick or sticky as other types of phlegm.

Green or yellow phlegm

Green or yellow mucus can be a sign that the body is fighting off an infection, with the colour arising from white blood cells in the body. The longer and more severe any infection is, the greater the chance of the mucus becoming thicker and more dark green in colour. Common conditions causing this type of phlegm include sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and cystic fibrosis.

Brown phlegm

Black phlegm

Red or pink phlegm

Red or pink coloured mucus is usually linked to blood, and should always be medically assessed. Causes include , TB, heart failure, blood clots in the lungs and lung cancer.

How Can You Treat Seasonal Allergies

The following home treatment measures may help relieve your symptoms:

  • Clean the inside of your nose with salt water to clear a stuffy nose.
  • Use a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom and take hot showers to help clear a stuffy nose.
  • If your nose is red and raw from rubbing, put petroleum jelly on the sore area.
  • Use over-the-counter allergy medicine to help your symptoms. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • To relieve a stuffy nose, use a steroid nasal spray . A steroid nasal spray can also help with red, itchy, watery eyes.
  • Another way to relieve a stuffy nose is a nasal or oral . Decongestants may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems.
  • For itchy, watery eyes sneezing or a runny, itchy nose, try a non-sedating over-the-counter antihistamine, like fexofenadine or loratadine . Older antihistamines, like chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine , are less expensive but can make you feel sleepy or tired. Don’t give antihistamines to your child unless you’ve checked with the doctor first.
  • To help relieve pain, try acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If your symptoms still bother you, ask your doctor if immunotherapy might help you. For this treatment, you get allergy shots or use pills that have a small amount of certain allergens in them. Your body “gets used to” the allergen, so you react less to it over time. This kind of treatment may help prevent or reduce some allergy symptoms.

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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?

Tips To Keep Pollen At Bay

Do You Have Seasonal Allergies or Is It Just a Cold?
  • Try to stay indoors whenever the pollen count is very high. The counts usually peak in the mornings.
  • Keep your doors and windows closed during the spring months to keep allergens out. An air purifier may also help.
  • Clean the air filters in your home often. Also, clean bookshelves, vents, and other places where pollen can collect.
  • Wash your hair after going outside, because the allergen can collect there.
  • Vacuum twice a week. Wear a mask, because vacuuming can kick up pollen, mold, and dust that were trapped in your carpet.
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    Know What To Do When Allergies Strike

    Allergens can sneak into your life on your daily walk, a plate of food, or anywhere in between. You might be born with them or develop them years down the line. Knowing what to do when you or someone you know is having an allergy attack could be the difference between life and death.

    When experiencing serious allergy symptoms, heading to your local Urgency Room could bring you relief faster than you thought possible. Our skilled and experienced emergency physicians and nurses are well trained to care for serious allergic reactions. At the UR, we treat the allergy symptoms. Treating and allergic reaction does not require any testing and we do not do allergy testing. Were dedicated to helping you return to your healthy self as soon as possible.

    You dont have to suffer through your allergies alone. Get the care you need now and the tools you need to avoid future allergy attacks. The Urgency Room operates three convenient Minnesota locations in Eagan, Vadnais Heights, and Woodbury. Were open 365 days per year from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays. When minutes matter, especially during an allergy attack, get to The Urgency Room.

    How Do Doctors Diagnose Pollen Allergy

    Doctors use two tests to diagnose a pollen allergy.

    Skin Prick Test In prick/scratch testing, a nurse or doctor places a small drop of the possible allergen on your skin. Then the nurse will lightly prick or scratch the spot with a needle through the drop. If you are allergic to the substance, you will develop redness, swelling and itching at the test site within 20 minutes. You may also see a wheal. A wheal is a raised, round area that looks like a hive. Usually, the larger the wheal, the more likely you are to be allergic to the allergen.

    A positive SPT to a particular pollen allergen does not necessarily mean that a person has an allergy. Health care providers must compare the skin test results with the time and place of a persons symptoms to see if they match.

    Specific IgE Blood Test Blood tests are helpful when people have a skin condition or are taking medicines that interfere with skin testing. They may also be used in children who may not tolerate skin testing. Your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory. The lab adds the allergen to your blood sample. Then they measure the amount of antibodies your blood produces to attack the allergens. This test is called Specific IgE Blood Testing. As with skin testing, a positive blood test to an allergen does not necessarily mean that an allergen caused your symptoms.

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