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What Are Seasonal Allergy Symptoms?
Seasonal allergies, also sometimes called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affect people in all regions and states, including urban and rural areas. Approximately 25 percent of all adults in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies.
If you are one of the many individuals in the U.S. living with seasonal allergies, reach out to your primary care provider for help. After evaluating the severity of your symptoms, your doctor can provide you with solutions to manage and minimize your allergies.
How Do You Know if You Have Seasonal Allergies?
People can suffer from various types of allergies; however, those with seasonal allergies usually feel the worst when mold or pollen spores from trees and grass are at their highest. This often coincides with changes in seasons and significant weather variations.
Seasonal allergies are often easier to diagnose than others as they tend to have a distinct occurrence pattern. If your symptoms begin and fade around the same time each year, then you likely have allergic rhinitis. Most individuals with seasonal allergies begin experiencing symptoms in the spring and start feeling better at the end of fall.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies occur when the human body launches an immune response to mold or pollen. As the body creates antibodies against the irritants, histamine is also produced, which causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
What Are the 7 Allergy Symptoms?
Here is a list of the seven most common symptoms that may indicate that you have seasonal allergies.
1. Congestion- Having a stuffy nose is common with allergies.
2. Sneezing- Sneezing occurs when the nose tries to rid itself of allergy irritants.
3. Runny nose- A runny nose can also cause post-nasal dripping as mucus trickles down the back of the throat, which can also trigger coughing.
4. Dry cough- Swelling or irritation of the airways can cause a dry cough to develop.
5. Watery eyes- Eyes can also become red due to frequent rubbing.
6. Itchy eyes, nose, or throat- Itchiness can develop due to allergy irritants.
7. Eyes that are puffy or have dark circles- When excess fluids build up under the eyes, they can become inflamed and cause dark circles to form.
What Months Cause Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies are most prevalent from spring until the end of fall, which occurs in November. As mold spores and pollen from trees, grass, and weeds float in the air, these allergens can enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Spring: February through April- Trees and flowers which use the wind to pollinate are the primary sources of spring allergies.
- Summer: May through July- As early summer begins, grass pollen takes center stage as the most prevalent trigger of seasonal allergies.
- Fall: August through November- Weed pollination and mold spore count drive most of the allergy symptoms which occur during the fall months. Ragweed season begins around mid-August each year. In addition, mold spore counts soar during the fall due to the large about of falling and decaying leaves.
Can Seasonal Allergies Make You Feel Sick?
Allergies can cause symptoms that make you feel tired, ill, and overall miserable, often closely resembling flu or cold symptoms.
An inflammatory response occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to allergens. This inflammatory response can cause a series of things that may cause an individual to feel unwell. Some examples include sneezing, coughing , congestion, runny nose, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
If your allergies are causing you to feel sick, speak with your doctor immediately. They can help supply relief to get you feeling better quickly.
How To Distinguish COVID-19 Symptoms From Seasonal Allergies?
While some allergy symptoms are similar to COVID-19 , some differences exist. Below are a few indications your symptoms might be more than just allergies.
You likely have allergies rather than COVID-19 if:
- You do not have a fever. A fever is the body’s attempt to fight off and kill bacteria or viruses; therefore, fevers do not occur with allergies.
- Your symptoms last more than 14 days. Allergies may continue through an entire season, while COVID-19 symptoms tend to fade after approximately two weeks.
- You have itchy, watery eyes.
- You do not have a sore throat. Sore throats are common with COVID-19 but rarely occur with allergies.
- Your symptoms seem to occur each year around the same time. COVID-19 is not limited to a particular season and can happen anytime. Seasonal allergies tend to appear at the same time every year.
How Long Do Seasonal Allergies Last?
Allergy season differs slightly by location because every geographic area has its own unique plants and weather. While most places have some amount of trees, grass, and weeds, the species vary; therefore, the timing of pollination can differ from other regions.
Anyone with seasonal allergies will continue to experience symptoms until the triggering irritant, such as mold spores or pollen, dissipates. With regard to seasonal allergies, this occurs when mold spores and pollen counts drop.
Seasonal Allergy Treatment
You do not have to suffer when allergies strike. Your primary care provider can help you manage your seasonal allergies with home therapies and over-the-counter and prescription medications such as corticosteroids or oral antihistamines.
Primary Physician Near Me Who Treats Seasonal Allergies -Littleton, CO
The staff at Colorado Primary Health Care is devoted to giving our patients a convenient solution for all their medical needs. Our facility uses the latest technology and has onsite imaging, laboratory testing, and a full-service pharmacy.
We are located in Littleton on West Dry Creek Circle near West Fremont Avenue and South Broadway.
Our office serves the areas of Littleton, Ken Caryl, Columbine, Bow Mar, Englewood, Southglenn, Greenwood Village, Castlewood, and Northridge.
If you are looking for a primary care physician to treat your seasonal allergies, we invite you to book an appointment using our online form or by calling our office at (303) 703-8583.
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