Fall vs. Spring Allergies

Fall and spring are arguably the two best seasons of the year. The temperature isn’t too cool or too hot. In the fall, there’s football, pumpkin flavors, and sweaters; In the spring, there’s flowers, animals, and flip flops. With all that beauty, there’s also a downfall. Both Fall and Spring are allergy seasons.

The symptoms of the seasons are similar but the triggers are different. These triggers cause allergic rhinitis (also known as hay fever), which affects 40 to 60 million Americans.  Allergic rhinitis is caused when the body’s immune system overreacts to something in the environment.

Spring Allergies

Spring is the allergy season that most people are familiar with because we see the allergen everywhere. Trees produce light, dry pollen that can be carried by the wind for miles which is one of the many reasons they wreak havoc on your allergies. It can start as early as February and stick around until May.

Grass pollen is another trigger for the season. There are over 1,000 types of grass that grow in North America, but only a few cause nasal allergies. Most types of grass release pollen only when they grow tall. Grass Pollen tends to start in the early summer months around June lasting into late summer.

Fall Allergies in Atlanta

Ragweed is the villain of the Autumn months. Three out of four people who are allergic to pollen are also allergic to ragweed. It’s abundant in the South, North and Midwest, and especially in the Atlanta area. At one time, Atlanta had the distinction of being one of the top ten worst places to live with allergies. Fortunately, we no longer can brag about that honor, but allergy seasons here can be pretty brutal.

Ragweed pollens peaks between August and October, until the frost begins to appear. The more windy and wet autumn is in your area, the more the pollen spreads

Fall’s rain and wind can also ramp up mold. The fungi grow and produce spores that, like pollen, are spread by the wind or indoor air. It tends to grow year-round but in the fall, they grow on damp fallen leaves. They thrive in damp areas indoors like basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Unlike pollen, mold isn’t killed by the first frost.

Symptoms

Symptoms of both seasons are similar and include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Headaches
• Irritated eyes
• Itchy throat

Facing Both Seasons

If you suffer from hay fever symptoms, you should follow these tips to ease the allergy season pain:

• Shower Frequently
• Limit your time outdoors
• Take allergy medications as prescribed
• Look into purchasing a home filtration system
• Consult an allergist

Consider Allergy Testing

If you suspect you may have seasonal allergies, one of the first steps we recommend is to get tested. We can test you for allergies and get your questions answered quickly. The best part is, with five convenient Atlanta area locations and flexible appointment times (same day appointments and evening hours) we can get you feeling better quickly.

Call 404-255-9286 to speak with our live receptionist, or visit our online appointment calendar to book a testing session.