Seasonal
Allergy: ‘Tis the Season to Be Sneezing
Spring, summer,
winter, or fall, the seasonal allergy covers them all. As the name
implies, a seasonal allergy will affect you only during certain
times of the year. The worst seasons for the seasonal allergy phenomenon
are spring, summer, and fall, but this may vary depending on the
climate where you live. The worst time of year for your seasonal
allergy also depends on which plant you are allergic to. A seasonal
allergy may also come from mold spores, which are more plentiful
during the spring, summer, and fall.
Seasonal allergy
symptoms converge upon the nose and the eyes. These symptoms are
caused by exposure to pollens, grasses, and weeds. Different areas
have different pollen, grass, and weed seasons, but regardless of
what gives you a seasonal allergy, the symptoms you experience usually
fall under the umbrella term “hay fever.” Here are some
seasonal allergy examples you may be familiar with:
- Spring seasonal allergy: pollen
from trees such as mountain cedar, oak, elm, and birch
- Summer seasonal allergy: pollen
from grass such as bluegrass or orchard grass
- Fall seasonal allergy: pollen
from weeds like ragweed and sagebrush
The typical symptoms
of a seasonal allergy or hay fever include itching of the throat,
eyes, and nose. A seasonal allergy also causes nasal congestion
and sneezing. In sensitive individuals, a seasonal allergen can
be an asthma trigger, leading
to wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and restriction of the
airways.
It’s often
difficult to completely avoid a seasonal allergy, as levels of the
allergen outside will vary from day to day. Pollen levels tend to
be highest from 5 to 10 a.m. Other ways you can avoid a seasonal
allergy include keeping windows closed, staying indoors, and taking
a vacation during the height of your seasonal allergy time. Natural
allergy relief is also available through special filters, mold-control
devices, and a natural allergy medicine like
VÄXA Aller-Sine.
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