Types of Seasonal Allergies and Their Symptoms

Almost one in every five Americans suffers due to seasonal allergies. You can find out about the various seasonal allergies and their symptoms. The allergy here in question is more specifically, Hay fever, also called seasonal allergic rhinitis. This happens when the immune system of a person overreacts sue to allergens like pollens.

These seasonal allergies are less common during the winter but since the different plants give out respective pollens during different seasons of the year, the symptoms of hay fever can effect the patient year-around. Since the pollen of insect pollinated plants cannot remain in the air for long, the most common source of this problem is wind pollinated plants like weeds, trees and grasses. These allergies are usually lesser common during winter.

Symptoms of allergies

The symptoms of these allergies go from being mild to very severe. A lot of people suffering from Hay fever also suffer from asthma. Here are some of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies:

• Watery eyes

• continuous sneezing

• congestion of ears

• itchy ear canals, eyes and throat

• stuffy or runny nose

• post-nasal drainage.

There are lesser common symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and head ache.

Spring Allergies

Springtime allergies are mostly caused by trees. Birch is the main offender. Apart from that, there are horse chestnut, polar, cedar, alder and willow trees that cause allergies.

Summer allergies

Here is where Hay fever gets its name – most people are afflicted in the same time as during the historical hay cutting season that takes place during summer. The actual culprits of summertime allergies are usually ryegrass, certain weeds and timothy grass. Around 90% of the sufferers of hay fever react to pollens from grass which makes them the most annoying allergens of all.

Autumn Allergies

Autumn is basically a ragweed season and is also called Ambrosia as over 40% of ragweed is found in South and North America. This kind of invasive weed is tough to control and the symptoms of this allergy can be rather severe. Autumn allergies are also caused by pollend dropped by trees like mugworts, fat hens, sorrels, nettles and plantains.

Winter Allergies

By the time it’s winter, a lot of outdoor allergens go dormant. Since the severe cold weather could bring the much needed relief to millions of people suffering from Hay fever, this also means that a lot more people spend time indoors. And for people who are prone to suffering outdoor allergies, their allergy sufferings are simply replaced with indoor allergies. Some of the common indoor allergies are pet dander, mold and dust mites. Luckily for the patients of the perennial allergic rhinitis (patients of this kind of allergies) inside the allergens can be easily removed from the atmosphere than the ones that are wind driven counterparts. You can take some simple steps to get rid of these allergens:

• Get rid of all upholstered furniture and carpets.

• get rid of stuffed toys

• Covering pillows ad bedding with covers that are allergen proof.

• Fix water leaks and clean ay water damage that might produce mold.

• Wash bedding once a week with hot water