Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, are caused by plant pollen and usually occur in spring and summer. Ragweed is a common offender in the US, while oak, cedar, elm, maple, juniper, alder, and birch are also culprits. Outdoor activities can trigger asthma attacks, and pollen counts are highest before and after sunrise and sunset. Decongestants, antihistamines, and corticosteroid nasal sprays can help, as can washing pets and changing clothes after going outdoors. Allergy shots are also an option for some.
Seasonal allergies, also sometimes called hay fever, tend to cause nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, and occasionally asthma. They are usually tied to a particular season and most often occur in spring and summer. Some people also have seasonal fall allergies, but spring and summer are the most likely candidates when diagnosing seasonal allergies. This is because the allergic reaction in seasonal allergies is linked to the release of plant pollen, which occurs more frequently in spring and summer.
Hay fever isn’t always analogous to seasonal allergies, as it involves an allergic reaction to herbs. Most often, the offending grasses in the United States include ragweed, which has the highest pollen counts in late spring and early summer. In fact, most spring allergies can be related to an allergic reaction to tree pollens. Oak is a common offender, as are cedar, elm, maple, juniper, alder, and birch. Each tree usually has a peak allergy season, around the end of May in the Western Hemisphere. Many newspapers now thoughtfully print pollen counts, which help allergy sufferers identify whether pollen from particular plants seems to be rising or falling.
Although spring and summer weather calls us outdoors, those with seasonal allergies may find that outdoor activities make them very unhappy. For some, outdoor exercise during these seasons triggers asthma attacks. Pollen counts are usually highest during the hours just before and after sunrise and sunset. If you plan to be outdoors, pick the middle of the day to avoid peak pollen periods.
Showering and using water/saline nasal rinses after outdoor exposure may also help people with seasonal allergies. Changing clothes after going outdoors and vacuuming the floors every day can also help, since we track pollen into our homes with every outdoor exposure. Dogs and cats, when possible, should be washed or combed to remove pollen from their fur.
When seasonal allergies are severe, people may benefit from taking decongestants, antihistamines, or corticosteroid nasal sprays. If you have asthma from seasonal allergies, you should also keep an asthma inhaler with you at all times. Some prefer nasal sprays especially over antihistamines, because many of them make people feel sleepy, and the one that makes us sleepiest, over-the-counter Benadryl®, is usually the most effective. There are some non-drowsy formulas using loratadine that have been a boon for many seasonal allergy sufferers. Some people also find allergy shots and treatment to be the most helpful way to deal with seasonal allergies, but others find that the lengthy process of this treatment is not justified by the short time of year they are affected by seasonal allergies.
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