Seasonal
Allergies Are Essentially Pollen Allergies
Seasonal
allergies may only affect you for a few months per year,
but they still can hinder you from being fully productive
and enjoying your life. As the name implies, seasonal allergies
are caused by plants that produce pollen during certain
seasons. This fact makes seasonal allergies different from
perennial allergies, which can affect you all year long.
Therefore, your seasonal allergies are basically pollen
allergies while perennial allergies involve reactions to
pet dander, mold, and dust mites.
Seasonal
allergies are divided into categories of which pollen you
are allergic to. For example, a springtime allergy is caused
by pollen from trees, while a summertime allergy is caused
by pollen from grasses, and a fall allergy comes from weed
pollen. In many areas, the winter brings well-deserved relief
to people who have seasonal allergies because winter is
a time when few plants produce pollen.
Seasonal
allergies are also called hay fever, even though running
a fever is not one of the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
If you are allergic to pollen, some or all of the following
symptoms will be present immediately after you are exposed
to the pollen:
- Frequent
sneezing
- Watery
eyes
- Congestion
and runny nose
- Itching
in the throat, eyes, nose, and mouth
- Coughing
- Puffy
skin under the eyes
- Fatigue
and insomnia
- Irritability
Avoiding
pollen exposure is a key factor in treating seasonal allergies.
Since pollen is usually most prevalent in the morning, it’s
wise to stay indoors between 5 and 10 a.m. You also can
avert seasonal allergies all day by staying in buildings
and vehicles where windows are closed and the air conditioner
is on. To avoid pollen that may have collected on your body
and clothes, it is recommended that people with seasonal
allergies shower and wash their hair daily as well as wear
clean clothes and sleep on clean bedding materials.
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