A Lot Happens Behind The Scenesand You Wont Even Know It
Ragweed, a common allergen, in bloom
Allergies are often triggered by pollen from grass, weeds, trees and mold. Thepollen grains are carried by the wind and can land in your eyes and nose and on your skin. Traditionally, mid-to-late spring through summer is when most of these allergens are in bloom, but it also depends on where you live.
And your bodys seasonal allergy response actually starts long before you even notice a sneezy nose or itchy eyes.
If you are predisposed to allergies, the first time your body encounters a specific allergen, like ragweed, you wont actually have an allergic reaction. When your nose lining comes into contact with that ragweed, it will produce an immune system protein known as an antibodyimmunoglobulin E , to be specific.
In a process called sensitization, the immune system stores this antibody in its memory in anticipation of future encounters with ragweed. During this sensitization period, the ragweed pollen is surrounded by a group of immune cells called antigen-presenting cells , which in turn command the attention of lymphocytes that recognize the pollen as a foreign entity.
The mast cells become like a ticking bomb, says Pramod Kelkar, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist who practices in Maple Grove, Minnesota. When these mast cells bind to IgEthat antibody your body produces when it inhales ragweed pollenit lights their fuse, he explains.
You Probably Don’t Have These Symptoms
Remember, some of the symptoms in the first two sections may also be symptoms of COVID-19, so if you feel under the weather, you should get tested for COVID-19 to be sure. A runny nose and sneezing, in particular, are common allergy symptoms and common symptoms of COVID-19.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, there’s a good chance you have a cold, COVID-19 or another virus:
- Aches and pains throughout your body
- Severe headache
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.
Are These Symptoms Allergies
If you believe you have developed allergies, the first thing you can try is over-the-counter antihistamines to help control your symptoms. It is also a good idea to avoid the things you believe you are allergic to until you can be seen by an allergist.
An allergist can perform allergy testing to determine if you have allergies and exactly what is triggering your allergy symptoms. If testing confirms you have allergies, you can work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan.
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Tips To Manage Symptoms
Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed when pollen is at its peak . Check pollen counts in your area. Your local weather report will usually include them.
Before you turn on your heat for the first time, clean your heating vents and change the filter. Bits of mold and other allergens can get trapped in the vents over the summer and will fill the air as soon as you start the furnace.
Use a HEPA filter in your heating system to remove pollen, mold, and other particles from the air.
Use a dehumidifier to keep your air at between 35% and 50% humidity.
Wear a mask when you rake leaves so you don’t breathe in mold spores.
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Why Do I Get Seasonal Allergies
During the spring and summer, most grasses, trees, and other plants take part in a 240-million-year-old tradition: shooting their sperm cells into the air so that they might get caught by the wind, land on another plant, and fertilize it, eventually producing a seed. Each sperm cell is packaged in a hard protective shell, forming a tiny grain of pollen.
Although these pollen grains are meant to land on other plants, some end up in a different place: inside your nose.
For most people, this isn’t a big deal. But for about 8 percent of adults, pollen from specific species including trees like pine and birch, weeds such as ragweed, and various grasses can trigger a rather unfortunate response from the immune system. Your body mistakenly interprets these pollen grains as foreign intruders and begins a series of steps intended to beat them back:
1) White blood cells inside your nasal passages come into contact with pollen grains and mistake them for dangerous interlopers.
2) These white blood cells then produce large numbers of antibodies small, Y-shaped proteins that are specially designed to lock on to a specific threat .
3) The antibodies bind to other kinds of white blood cells . So the next time grains of pollen enter your nose, the specially designed antibodies recognize and lock on to them, as well, eventually causing the mast cells and basophils to break open.
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Why Do Dogs Get Seasonal Allergies
In short, its usually genetics. Studies have shown that some breeds and even families of dogs have a less efficient skin barrier and a more reactive immune system than others. Some more susceptible breeds include Bulldogs, Pugs, Retrievers, Setters, and Terriers.
For these dogs, not only can allergens penetrate more easily and more deeply into their skin, but they also cause more severe inflammation. The vicious circle starts with itchy skin, which can become infected and even more sore from all the licking and scratching.
Symptoms Of Pollen Allergies
Everyones immune system is different and allergies to pollens can cause diverse signs and symptoms. This means that diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you may have an allergy, keeping a record of your symptoms can help you and your doctor to understand what is causing your symptoms.
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Know Where To Go For Allergy Care: Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center
Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood and anytime in between. If youre dealing with a new or persistent case of allergies, we encourage you to reach out to us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy. We serve patients throughout North and South Carolina and work with traditional allergy treatment methods as well as allergy shots and allergy drops.
Our board-certified doctors are experts in food allergies, asthma, insect bite allergies and other uncommon, yet often serious allergies that require specialized care. We even offer anaphylaxis prevention and treatment, immunotherapy care and treatments for the lungs, skin, throat, nose, ears, and eyes. To set up your appointment today, contact us today!
What Causes You To Develop Allergies
Allergies can develop at any point in a persons life. Usually, allergies first appear early in life and become a lifelong issue. However, allergies can start unexpectedly as an adult. A family history of allergies puts you at a higher risk of developing allergies some time in your life.
Allergies develop when your body thinks a substance such as animal hair, pollen, or mold is harmful. That substance awakens your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, which leads to your allergy symptoms. As you age, your immune system may start to weaken, so your response to an allergen also weakens. Repeated exposure can also cause your immune system to overreact. If you develop allergies as an adult, you may have had slight symptoms throughout your life, but an event such as a move or a new pet triggered your immune system to respond.
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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 a nasal steroid spray or allergy shots to dampen symptoms.
It’s always a good idea to try your best to avoid your allergy 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.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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Hay Fever Symptoms From Pollen Allergies
Hay fever may also be referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis, if the symptoms appear only when it is pollen season. Hay fever originally only referred to allergies caused by grass pollens, but the term is now also used to describe the symptoms of rhinitis . This can occur throughout the year.
Allergies to pollen commonly cause symptoms of hay fever including:
- runny, itchy, congested nose
- irritable, itchy, watery and red eyes
- itchy ears, throat and palate.
People with hay fever are more likely to develop sinus infections, and can have interrupted sleep that leads to extreme tiredness. Severe hay fever symptoms can affect learning in children and productivity in adults. Hay fever can also make it more difficult to control asthma in those who are more likely to get it.
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Can I Develop Seasonal Allergies Over Time And Can They Go Away
Yes and yes.
Most people with seasonal allergies develop them some time after reaching adulthood, and these allergies can change unpredictably in some cases, disappearing one spring after years of suffering. But scientists still really have no idea how or why this happens. Claims that you can eliminate seasonal allergies by changing your diet are unsubstantiated.
Seasonal Allergies: What You Need To Know
Pollen is an airborne substance that comes from grass, flowering plants, trees, and weeds. In the past 12 months, 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children under 18 were diagnosed with hay fever, the name given to allergic rhinitis caused by pollen. When someone has hay fever, their immune system identifies pollen as a threat and releases signals that lead to congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing, as well as problems like sinus pressure and allergic conjunctivitis .
The amount of pollen in the air depends on the season and the geographic area in which you live. The study reported in PNAS found the most pronounced effects in Texas and the Midwestern United States. However, the Northeast can have a significant spring allergy season as well, Dr. Leeds says. Tree allergies are especially common in New Englandparticularly due to birch and oak. Pollen allergies can also cause a cross-reaction with certain foods in some people symptoms include an itchy or tingling mouth and throat after eating raw fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nuts.
People may also have allergic reactions to grass pollen in the late spring to early summer and weed pollen in the fall. Many people are multi-sensitized, so they are allergic to more than one type of pollen, and they can be symptomatic through all of the warm weather seasons, Dr. Leeds says. Pollen can be carried by the wind, so windy days are the worst.
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What Is A Pollen Count
A pollen count is how much pollen is in the air. To get a pollen count, a device such as an air sampler is used to capture pollen, and then the sample pollens are identified and counted. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunologys National Allergy Bureau collects pollen and reports these counts around the U.S.
Some websites or weather news report pollen forecasts also. Pollen forecasts are estimates, just like a weather forecast. Most of the time, pollen forecasts will only report on the most common types of pollen. This may help you identify which type of pollen is present in your area and triggering your allergy symptoms. Pollen forecasts can help you prepare, but you may feel allergy symptoms at times when the forecast predicted low or moderate amounts of pollen.
Why Do Some People Suffer From These Allergies While Others Don’t
The short answer: we really don’t know.
Genetics are at least part of the reason having a parent with a pollen allergy makes it more likely you’ll have one as well. And scientists have begun identifying some genes that seem to be linked to the condition.
But it’s clear environmental factors play a role in determining whether you’ll experience allergies, as well. In the United States, rates of all sorts of allergies have been increasing in recent years, especially in children. Many scientists blame this on something called the hygiene hypothesis the idea that growing up in an overly clean, sterilized environment somehow messes with the natural development of the immune system, making it more prone to errors, like mistaking a harmless pollen grain for an invader.
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Can Allergies Go Away With Time
The short answer is yes.
Even if you develop allergies as an adult, you may notice they start to fade again when you reach your 50s and beyond.
This is because your immune function is reduced as you get older, so the immune response to allergens also becomes less severe.
Some allergies you have as a child may also go away when youre a teen and well into your adulthood, perhaps making only a few appearances throughout your life until they disappear permanently.
How Can I Prevent An Allergic Reaction To Pollen
There are actions you can take to reduce allergic reactions to pollen:
- Start taking allergy treatments before pollen season begins. Most allergy treatments work best when taken this way. This allows the treatments to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.
- Limit your outdoor activities when pollen counts are high. This will cut down the amount of pollen allergen you inhale and help reduce your symptoms.
- Keep windows closed during pollen season or peak pollen times.
- Use central air conditioning or air cleaners with a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter and/or HEPA filtration to reduce indoor airborne allergens .
- Wear sunglasses and cover your hair when going outside. This will help keep pollen out of your eyes and off your hair.
- Shower daily before going to bed. This will remove pollen from your body and keep it off your bedding.
- Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week.
- Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Wipe furry animals off when they come inside or bathe them weekly .
- Change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities.
- Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer or inside, not on an outdoor line.
- Watch pollen counts and forecasts. Many local weather reports will give pollen counts or forecasts. You can also visit websites like pollen.aaaai.org for pollen reports.
Visit aafa.org/certified to search for CERTIFIED products.
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Stay Hydrated + Healthy Eating
Your diet is the key to building up your immune system. If youre wondering, How do you get rid of seasonal allergies permanently?, it might be a good idea to start inside your body.
You mightve heard that staying hydrated and eating right really improves your outer appearance. But making sure your body is in tiptop shape to fight off allergies is also on the list. When a bad case of allergies are plaguing your days, try adding these ingredients into your diet:
- Fruits and veggies are always good to have in your diet, ensuring that the best nutrients are getting to your cells.
- Honey, an age-old wives tale, can serve as a cough suppressant and soothe a sore throat.
- Eucalyptus oil and other essential oils do a great job of opening up your sinus and easing congestion in your lungs.
- Ginger and turmeric have great anti-inflammatory properties.
When Does A Person Develop Allergies
Allergies can develop at any point in a persons life. One factor that increases your chance is your family history. If one parent is allergic there is a 30-50% chance of their offspring developing allergies. This jumps to 60-80% if both parents are allergic.
In many cases, allergies first present early in life, during infancy or the toddler years. Most of these allergies will be lifelong concerns, although some can resolve on their own.
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Can Allergies Be Prevented
Unfortunately, you cannot prevent the manifestation of adult-onset allergies. As we mentioned, these allergies sometimes spring up where none existed before. Other times, exposure to the allergen triggers a reaction. For those reasons, its difficult to say with certainty which triggers you should avoid.
While you cant always prevent adult-onset allergies, you can treat them as they develop. If, for instance, you notice you get an adverse reaction after eating shellfish or peanuts, you should refrain from eating these foods right away. Instead, set up an appointment with an allergy provider who can test your to see what is causing your symptoms
In the case of food allergies, the best treatment is avoidance. For pet dander, pollen, and other standard allergy triggers, you can try medications, including steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines, to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. You can also try to keep yourself away from these allergens via lifestyle adjustments.
