How To Keep Hearing Aids Dry
To make sure hearing aids stay working properly when the weather changes, be sure to wear a hat or use an umbrella when going out in the rain. Youll also want to dry your hair and ears thoroughly after showering prior to putting in your hearing aids. Lastly, in addition to regular cleaning, use a hearing aid dehumidifier overnight or anytime your hearing aids are exposed to excess moisture.
If you suspect hearing loss, be sure to see a hearing healthcare professional if your hearing problems persist after the barrage of wet weather, sudden barometric changes and allergy season ends, so you can enjoy the beautiful sounds of springtime for years to come.
Why Your Allergies May Get Worse In The Fall
Ah, the cool comfort of fall. Crunchy red and gold leaves underfoot, plaid shirts on display, crisp wind in your hair, pumpkins everywhere. Its my favorite time of year, except for one thing: annoying fall allergies are back. Why do the sniffles, sneezes, itchy eyes, and allergy headaches make an appearance so many months after pollen picks up? POPSUGAR spoke to allergists to get to the bottom of why it might seem like your allergies get worse in the fall and what you can do about it.
Treatment For Seasonal Allergies:
At Aspire Allergy & Sinus, we offer a variety of curative, long-term relief treatment options, so when fall comes around next year, you won’t be suffering through your allergies again.
Allergy Shots: Allergy shots are a great way to keep a routine for your allergy treatment. By using allergy shots, you’re training your immune system to not overreact to the allergen. Gradually, the amount of allergen that is injected will increase as your immune system continues to be trained to not react. This is done weekly or bi-weekly injections in the office!
Allergy Drops: Allergy drops are created for those on the go. This long-term relief treatment can be taken anywhere and at any time. Just as long as you take 3 drops a day! Theyâre great for children too. These work in the same way as allergy shots: as your body adjusts, the concentration increases, and your immune system no longer reacts to the allergen.
ExACT Immunoplasty: Our ExACT treatment is the newest way to treat allergies. It has been clinically proven to be just as effective as 3 years worth of allergy shots, with an 87% long-term success rate! If you’re looking for a quick treatment this is it. With only 3 appointments over the span of eight weeks, this treatment option is a no brainer!
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Is It An Allergy Or Covid
When COVID-19 and seasonal allergies are circulating at the same time, every sniffle can lead you to worry that you might have the virus. From the perspective of a parent, one of the biggest issues is when kids in school have allergy symptoms that are poorly controlled, and then the school system sends them home or says they need a physicians note, Dr. Leeds says.
The CDC has a Venn diagram that shows symptoms the two conditions have in common. These include congestion, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, and shortness of breath. But comparing the most common symptoms reveals clear differences. Seasonal allergies usually cause itchy or watery eyes and sneezing, while COVID-19 is characterized by fever and chills, muscle and body aches, new loss of taste and smell, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Because of COVID-19, people are afraid of you when youre sniffling, says Dr. Hsu. But it goes both waysa lot of people are sniffling and sneezing and coughing, and they are not getting tested for COVID-19, because they assume its allergies. And they are probably correct.
Often the distinction is clearpeople with allergies itch more, and they dont have the fatigue, malaise, and fever that comes with COVID-19. But anyone who is concerned should call their doctor, she says.
Certain Fruits And Veggies
Proteins in certain foods can cause cross-reactivity in people with allergies. The result: When you take a bite, you end up with an itchy mouth. Ragweed sufferers are likely to cross-react with bananas and melons, including honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelons and tomatoes.
Zucchini, sunflower seeds, dandelions and chamomile tea may also pose problems, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America .
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What Is Triggering My Allergies This Time Of Year
The most common culprit for fall allergies is ragweed, a plant that grows wild almost everywhere, but especially on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November. In many areas of the country, ragweed pollen levels are highest in early to mid-September.
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Why Do I Have Allergy Symptoms In The Fall
Starting in early August, ragweed will release its pollen, causing allergy symptoms for many people through early October. Mold spores also grow during this time and become even more common as trees shed their leaves, leaving them to decay on the ground. Seasonal allergy symptoms range from mild to severe.
Read Also: What To Take For Allergies Sneezing
Can Rainy Weather Cause Shortness Of Breath
If you feel like you get winded easier when it rains, its not your imagination. Dr. Pien says its very possible, especially for people with asthma and COPD.
Rainy weather can cause shortness of breath. Its most likely when there are changes in humidity, temperature and pollen. And these changes can affect people with asthma and COPD, says Dr. Pien.
Perfume And Other Strong Odors
Just like cigarette smoke, strong odors can set off ailments in anyone. “Perfume, cologne, nail polish, paint fumes anything you can think of that puts off a strong smell can trigger nasal symptoms,” Dr. Schaffer said.
Again, these irritants can make seasonal suffering worse as well.
NEXT: A summer danger
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Most Common Fall Allergy Symptoms:
Fall allergy symptoms are often overlooked due to the fact that the symptoms overlap with the common cold, flu, or even COVID symptoms. This is especially prominent in the fall when the weather begins to get colder. Here are the top allergy symptoms:
Mold:
Mold is another fall allergy trigger. With fall weather typically comes cooler weather and rain. Once fall foliage begins to decay, it becomes a breeding ground for mold. Breathing in mold can aggravate asthma causing heavy breathing, wheezing, and other upper respiratory symptoms within those mold allergies. If you are trying to make the most out of the cooler weather and enjoying the outdoors a lot more, it might be best to wear a mask while out in the woods.
Pets:
Pets can bring in allergies from outdoors. Collecting everything from mold, to ragweed, on their paws and fur coat. Be sure to wipe your pups down before bringing them in, especially before they jump on your bed.
Dust Mites:
We can all agree that fall weather is the best, days get a little cooler and you might even have to turn on the heat to cozy up. This might be the first time in a couple months that you’re turning on your heating. This can blow a lot of dust mites around inside your home, which trigger, sneezes, wheezes and runny noses. So be sure to change your filter before you run your heating system!
Do Allergies Get Worse When It Rains
Dr. Pien says yes, allergies can get much worse when it rains. This is due to changes in the amount of pollen in the air. She adds that some studies have even shown that pollen grains can rupture or burst, and then be inhaled by people with allergies and asthma.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, grass and weed pollen is higher when it rains. When raindrops hit the ground and break up clumps of pollen into smaller particles, those particles quickly spread out. This then leads to a sudden increase in allergy and allergic asthma symptoms during rain showers. This occurs frequently during heavy downpours.
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Does Climate Change Affect Health
Climate change is an environmental issue. It is also a serious threat to our public health.
The government has a plan to address climate change and its health threat. Rising temperatures caused by climate change lead to longer allergy seasons and worsen air quality. Long allergy seasons can cause more allergies and asthma attacks.
Between 1995 and 2011, warmer temperatures in the U.S. have caused the pollen season to be 11 to 27 days longer. These warmer temperatures create more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens and more allergy symptoms.
People living with asthma and allergies can do a few things to reduce the risks and impact of climate change:
- Ask your doctor for advice on how to avoid places or situations that can cause an asthma attack or allergic reactions.
- Before leaving your home, check the Air Quality Index to see how polluted the air is in your area. This will help you protect yourself before you go outside.
- Advocate and support policy makers to act to reduce climate change and its impact on human health.
To take action against climate change, visit AAFAs Action Network!
Allergy Research
Allergies Change With The Weather And The Seasons
It’s the time of year that many people dread. It’s certainly not the warmer temperatures, but the seasonal allergies they suffer through when all the trees and plants explode, sending massive amounts of pollen grains into the air.
It might surprise you to know that the weather can affect your allergies. If you feel congested when it rains, or have runny and watery eyes when itâs windy outside, you might have weather-related allergies.
What You Need To Know
- Dry, windy days can increase pollen issues
- Mold levels usually pick up during damp weather
- Grass and tree pollen is often worst in the spring into summer
- Ragweed allergies pick up going into fall
Allergic reactions occur when your immune system reacts to an allergenâanything your body identifies as âforeign.â Allergy symptoms can be similar to symptoms from other conditions, such as the common cold. These symptoms are often worse if you also have asthma.
The symptoms include watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, congestion and coughing. These symptoms can be fairly mild and just a nuisance treated with over-the-counter medications, or can be quite debilitating and cause the patient to seek out special treatments.
When you find yellow dust covering your car, you know what pollen looks like. This fine, dust-like substance helps fertilize plants.
With all that pollen in the air, certain types of weather conditions can play a role in which days can be worse for allergy suffers.
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Barometric Pressure: Effects On Sinuses
Most people donât think much about how barometric pressure might affect them, especially when theyâre younger. However, as the body ages, it may become more susceptible to environmental triggers for pain. When the barometric pressure changes, it can cause changes to the way blood flows through the body, causing increased or decreased blood pressure, sinus pressure, and more.A change in barometric pressure may be responsible for increased instances of migraines and weather may cause changes so subtle that itâs difficult for sufferers or their physicians to discern the problem.Barometric pressure and sinuses also share connections that are not yet fully understood by the scientific or medical communities, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact changes that trigger migraines, stuffiness, changes in blood pressure, and more.Watching the weather for upcoming changes in the barometric pressure, and being aware of when those changes are taking place, can give sufferers a chance to head off problems and pains before they begin with a proactive, preventative approach as recommended by their physician.
Bu Today: What Can People Do To Decrease Their Pollen Exposure
Fred Little:Unlike somebody with a food allergy, who can control their exposure to that food, its very hard to control exposure to pollens, as theyre so pervasive. Even indoors: as we come in and out of our houses, we wear the clothes we were wearing outdoors and bring pollens into the house. There are some things that can be done to minimize pollen levels in the house. For one, if you have the resources, keep windows closed during the night and day and use air conditioners to keep the air cool. For people with really bad allergies to pollens, they might want to change out of their outside clothes when they come inside and wash them . That can be helpful for people who have severe allergies and want to keep the house as pollen-free as possible. But no house or apartment is airtight, so it can be hard to keep the outdoor environment from coming indoors.
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What Allergy Treatments Are Available
Treatments can help a great deal, says Dr. Hsu. Allergy treatment has changed over the past 10 years, with a number of first-line medications now available over the counter, she says. So, while we have lots of consultations with patients, we dont necessarily send a prescription to the pharmacy. We often advise people on what to buybut we want to be very specific, because there are certainly a lot of over-the-counter medications that we would not recommend as first-line treatments.
For instance, she might start with antihistamines for itching and runny nose, steroid nasal sprays for nasal passage congestion, and antihistamine eye drops for ocular symptoms. If a patient is still uncomfortable, she might recommend a decongestant, but not for daily use, since its a medication patients can become overly reliant on. Likewise, some patients should avoid antihistamines that are excessively sedating, she says.
The problem is that some people think theyll just grin and bear it. But… you can take steps to minimize those weeks of misery.Yale Medicine pediatric allergist Stephanie Leeds, MD
Its helpful when patients have a skin or blood test to find out exactly what they are allergic to. If you are really symptomatic, its helpful to get tested at least once. I dont think you need to be re-tested year after year, but at some point, establishing the specific triggers can be helpful, because then you can take steps to avoid exposure, Dr. Leeds says.
How Changes In Weather Affect Allergy Symptoms
How Changes in Weather Affect Allergy Symptoms, Headaches, and Pain
Most people think they are having an allergic reaction when they experience allergy-like symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and in some cases, headaches. However, sometimes those symptoms are not an allergic reaction to something, but a sensitivity reaction to the weather. Thats right, changes in the weather, such as barometric pressure fluctuations, temperature changes, and even the change of seasons, can produce allergy-like symptoms including headaches, migraines, and body pain. Find out how in this article.
Am I Allergic to The Weather?
You might have noticed that when the weather suddenly changes, going from a sunny to a rainy or snowy day, you get congested or perhaps develop a headache or migraine or other body pain. If you have seasonal allergies you already know that each season brings specific allergens that can trigger symptoms, like sneezing, runny noses, and wheezing. Certain allergens thrive in certain weather conditions. For example, mold grows in the winter, hay fever is common in the summer, and pollen fills the spring and fall air.
Learn more about seasonal allergies here A Quick Guide to Summer Allergy Symptoms
Understanding How Weather Can Affect Our Body
Treatment for Weather Related Inflammation, Pain and Congestion
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Can Cold Weather Trigger Allergies
The allergy is called cold urticaria, and those who have it experience itchy hives, redness and swelling when their skin is warmed after being exposed to cold temperatures below 39 degrees, says pediatric allergy and immunology specialist Eli Silver, MD. The exposure to cold sets them up to develop hives, Dr.
Do Allergies Get Worse With Cold Weather
Most winter allergies are caused by the same allergens of other seasons but winter can actually intensify those triggers, especially: Pet dander: Because cold weather usually causes pets to be indoors more often, exposure to dander escalates in the winter months, leading to a corresponding increase in symptoms.
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How Can I Manage My Fall Allergy Symptoms
Being proactive will help lessen your fall allergy symptoms. Dr. Ogden recommends staying aware of local pollen counts and limiting your time outdoors on high-allergy days.
Dr. Ogden also stresses the importance of making an appointment with a board-certified allergy specialist. “This is an efficient way to identify your allergic triggers and optimize your allergy treatment, so you aren’t roaming the pharmacy aisles or ending up in urgent care when you are not feeling well,” Dr. Ogden explained. “This is a key first step in treating allergies effectively!”
Your doctor may suggest taking allergy medicine as a preventive measure. Dr. Jain typically recommends taking a daily, non-sedating antihistamine, such as Zyrtec or Claritin, during peak allergy season, in order to avoid having your symptoms flare up. Other options include nasal sprays. “Steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase are a great option for a controller medication during the fall to reduce inflammation and reduce the severity of symptoms,” Dr. Jain says. You may also need to use an inhaler if fall allergens trigger asthma symptoms.
Can Allergies Act Up In Cold Weather
Winter allergies are often perennial allergies,1 meaning they can take hold at any point in the year, rather than being restricted to the spring, summer and fall. Allergies stemming from cold weather are not triggered by pollen but by culprits such as mold spores, mildew, dust mites and pet dander2.
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