Seasonal Allergies
What are seasonal allergies?
Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, are an immune response to pollen and mold. An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system confuses these allergens for something dangerous. Your body then creates antibodies to fight off the allergens, these antibodies produce histamine that causes allergy symptoms.
Unlike a cold or the flu, allergy symptoms often last for several weeks to months of the years. Allergies can also be an underlying cause of frequent sinus, ear, and respiratory infections.
When do seasonal allergies start?
Seasonal allergies are often caused by tree or grass pollen in the spring and weed pollen, such as ragweed, in the fall. In our region, we typically see tree pollen bloom in early March. Grass pollen blooms later in the spring and lasts through early June. For the fall allergy season, ragweed pollen starts bothering patients in August and lasts until the first frost.
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies:
Seasonal allergy symptoms are:
- Sinus Congestion
- Runny Nose
- Post-Nasal Drip
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itchy or Watery Eyes
Those with seasonal allergies often have symptoms at the same time of year each year. If you or a loved one is suffering from the above symptoms, we can help you find relief.
How do we treat seasonal allergies?
The first step towards relief is finding out what is causing your symptoms. An allergist can test for and diagnose allergies in your first visit. Once they know what you are allergic to our physicians, create a personalized treatment plan to help manage your allergies.
Avoidance and over-the-counter medications can help keep symptoms at bay. However, when allergies interfere with our patients quality of life, we often suggest immunotherapy. Immunotherapy (allergy shots, tablets or drops) can desensitize you to the allergens that cause you to suffer. The traditional allergy shot program often takes a few months before patients see symptom relief. We also offer rush or cluster allergy shot programs that can help patients find relief faster.
Don’t wait until you are suffering to do something about your allergies. Schedule an allergy test today!