Advice

Understanding Seasonal Spring Allergies And What You Can Do

Tired of fighting off those seasonal springtime allergies? We’ve got some helpful tricks and tips to help fight back against all those itchy and sneezy symptoms that are driving you crazy. Here’s what to do.

FirstQuote Health Staff
Published on
April 10, 2019
Last Updated on
November 8, 2023
Road sign warning that Allergy Season Ahead

For most of us, springtime is the time of year that saves us from the dreary days of winter and splashes color back into our lives. It’s when trees waken from their barren state to bring us a wonderful display of flowers, the grass sprouts up through the desolate patches of dirt, and the sun welcomes us outside for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

It’s understandable why so many people look forward to the blooming season, but there are also those of us who dread it. No, it’s not dreaded because we prefer to live our lives under the shade of dark clouds, it’s the spring allergies we can do without.

While the spring season may be a welcomed relief from winter, it’s also the time of year where sneezing, itchiness, and an array of other struggles become part of our daily lives.

If you can’t relate, count your blessings. However, for those of us who can’t wait for the day seasonal spring allergies crawl back into hibernation, we’re going to jump into some great ways you can combat your symptoms and causes. First, let’s take a look into what the spring allergy is all about.

Why Allergies Act Up Every Spring

An allergic reaction is a system that originates from the immune system of a person. The reaction occurs when an immune system overreacts to a harmless substance called an allergen. The body’s immune system is made in a way that it attacks any foreign material such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which try getting into it.

Therefore, allergies act up every spring because of the presence of several allergens in the atmosphere. Some of these allergens are pollen, latex, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and certain foods. The allergens trigger the immune system to produce antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, which cause most of the symptoms at the nose, throat, lungs, lining of the skin, and ears.

The Biggest Culprits

Seasonal allergies have got the main allergens that sensitize them. These allergens can be easily felt by just inhale when in an outdoor environment. The amount of these allergens in the air will determine the severity of the spring allergies. The most common culprits are tree pollen and molds.

pollen in the wind

1. Tree Pollen

Trees cause spring allergies because they are responsible for the production of small pollen cells. The pollen cells are often dry and light enough to be carried to distant places by the spring breeze.

Immediately, an allergic person comes across this pollen, they will experience congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, and mouth. Some of the commonly known trees that produce pollen are oak, western red cedar, poplar, cypress, and walnut.

2. Mold

Molds are fungal vegetative parts. Being fungi, they reproduce by substances called spores. For molds to have high chances of reproduction, they produce millions of spores, which are released to the air.

These spores are often carried by wind from one place to another and tend to cause worst spring allergy symptoms. Some of the common molds that produce spores are Cladosporium, Hormodendrum, Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium.

Spring Season Symptoms to watch for

Spring allergy symptoms begin to appear when one comes across an allergen that had earlier sensitized his or her immune system. The spring allergy symptoms help one to differentiate allergic reactions from the common cold. BouyHealth outlines the commonly know spring allergy symptoms. They include:

  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes
  • Nasal congestion
  • Postnasal drainage
  • Itchy sinuses
  • Itchy throat
  • Runny nose
  • Dark circles under the eye
  • Shortness of breathing
  • Wheezing

Symptoms originating from seasonal allergies may differ from person to person due to the difference in the immune system. However, the person has to show a number of the symptoms mentioned above. Continuous experience of the above symptoms can lead to an asthma attack.

The Time Of Year Seasonal Allergies End

Allergies begin to decrease when the allergens that trigger them also decreases from the atmosphere. The decrease in the allergies depends on a lot of factors, which include, the place in which you live, the kind of trees that are planted in the area, and the atmospheric composition of your place.

Once you understand the above criteria, it will be easier for you to monitor the trends in your area that pose allergens into the air. In most places, allergies go down during the summer and winter. This is because there is no enough vegetative parts that can bring about a lot of allergens such and pollens and spores into the air.

Tips And Treatments

Spring allergies are dangerous and can lead to serious ill health if not well treated. It is important therefore to learn several tips that will be of help during the spring period.

First, keep an eye on the pollen count. Pollen being among the leading allergens, it is important to check on the pollen count of the place you are headed. The pollen count can be checked by the use of important tools from weather channels and allergy tracker.

Secondly, ensure you have a clean house. Cleaning the house ensures that you remove all allergens like dust, mold and pet dander, which may have grown in the house during winter. The house cleaning should be done properly according to allergen removal guides.

Lastly, treat your allergy symptoms. One gets better each day when he or she treats her allergy symptoms whenever they appear. It is crucial to seek a specialist who can offer you the right medication for your symptoms.

The Best Ways to prevent Spring Allergies

It’s not always possible to prevent spring allergies, but there are certain measures and precautions you can take to minimize the effects. If your allergies are becoming too much to handle this season, try any number of the following combinations and preventive measures:

  • Avoiding your allergens.
  • Take your medicine as prescribed.
  • Keep the proper diet.
  • Know the immediate thing to do when an allergic reaction occurs.
  • Wear a medical alert bracelet whenever an allergic reaction occurs.

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