Seasonal Allergies: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Highlights

• Seasonal allergies are often called allergic rhinitis or hay fever.
• They’re a reaction to tree, grass, and weed pollen.
• Symptoms include watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, and scratchy throat.
• Trigger allergens are often easily identified based on the season.
• Treatment can include avoidance, over-the-counter or prescription medications, and making changes to your environment.

Do you have allergy symptoms that occur mostly during a particular season of the year? If so, what you have is allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, and you are not alone. In the past 12 months in America, 19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children were diagnosed with hay fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In this article, we’ll talk about what hay fever is and what you can do about it.

What causes seasonal allergies?

The name hay fever is misleading because symptoms can occur for up to three seasons of the year (and sometimes four), not just hay season. And there is no fever involved.

Hay fever is an allergic response that happens when you are exposed to an airborne allergen, such as hay or pollen, and your immune system overreacts by releasing histamines into your bloodstream.

The most common allergens, or triggers, are pollens from trees, weeds, and grasses. These have varying pollen seasons, and they will also vary in different regions of the country.

Some people have allergies to more than one type of pollen, so they can have longer hay fever seasons, sometimes from early spring until late in the fall.

Seasonal allergies are less likely to occur in winter, but some people have allergic rhinitis year-round. People can also be allergic to indoor allergens like mold spores and pet dander, which can also cause symptoms throughout the year.

What are the symptoms of seasonal allergies?

The symptoms of seasonal allergies can vary from season to season, depending on the allergen involved. Symptoms also can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Here are the most common symptoms:

• Sneezing.
• Itching or watery eyes.
• Red eyes and red, swollen eyelids (allergic conjunctivitis).
• Itching of the roof of the mouth or back of the throat.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Sinus pain and occasional sinus infection.
• Headaches.
• Itchy ear canals.
• Postnasal drainage.
• Ear infections in children.
• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing and wheezing. Some people with seasonal allergies also have asthma, which can worsen during allergy seasons.

What are the most common seasonal allergens?

Again, allergic rhinitis triggers vary by season. These are some of the most common:

Spring

The most common springtime pollen producers are trees. In northern parts of the country, birch trees are the most likely source. In other regions, common offenders are alder, willow, cedar, horse chestnut, and poplar.

Summer

Summer is hay season, so for people who live near farms and hayfields, this is a significant trigger. Otherwise, grasses like timothy and ryegrass are the most common summer allergens along with certain weeds.

Autumn

The most common trigger in the fall is ragweed. There are 40 species of ragweed that grow mostly in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Because it’s an invasive plant, ragweed pollen is hard to avoid in these regions. Symptoms of a ragweed allergy can be particularly severe.

Other pollens that trigger allergy symptoms in the fall are from weeds such as mugwort, fat hen, nettles, plantain, sagebrush, and Russian thistle.

Winter

For most hay fever sufferers, allergy symptoms settle down during the winter. But those who also suffer from indoor allergens aren’t always so lucky.

What are indoor allergens?

Common indoor allergens include mold, dust mites, pet dander, and cockroaches. However, there are environmental changes you can make to lessen the severity of your symptoms. Here are a few tips:

• Get allergy-proof covers for your mattress and pillows.
• Wash your sheets in very hot water every week.
• Remove carpets and upholstered furniture from your home.
• If your children have symptoms, remove stuffed toys from their rooms.
• Look for water damage and fix leaks in places where mold might grow.
• Use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth.
• Clean places where there is existing mold. Don’t forget air conditioners, humidifiers, and refrigerators.

How are seasonal allergies diagnosed?

If your allergic symptoms only happen seasonally, you probably don’t need to be tested. Unlike other types of allergies, seasonal allergies are easy to diagnose. What’s more, allergic rhinitis treatment is the same no matter what your trigger allergen is.

Your doctor will likely do a brief exam, but with hay fever, the symptoms and season usually speak for themselves.

How are seasonal allergies treated?

Avoidance is by far the best treatment for hay fever. If avoidance doesn’t work for you, you may want to try medication. There are several over-the-counter and prescription medications available for allergy symptoms. Alternative remedies are another option.

Here are some tips for each option:

Avoidance

• Air conditioners with HEPA filters are the best way to cool your home in the summertime. Ceiling fans will move the allergens through the air, possibly making your symptoms worse.
• Pay attention to pollen forecasts and try to stay indoors on days when the levels are high.
• Keep your windows closed.
• Stay inside on windy days or wear a dust mask when you’re outdoors.
• Avoid cigarette smoke.

Medication

The following medications are commonly used for relief of allergy symptoms:

• Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants: These include cetirizine (Zyrtec) and combination medications with acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and phenylephrine.
• Eyedrops.
• Prescription medications like steroid nasal sprays.
• Allergy shots: Doctors sometimes recommend allergy shots for severe symptoms. This is called immunotherapy. Its function is to desensitize your immune system to your trigger allergens.

NOTE: Some allergy medications can have side effects such as dizziness, confusion, and drowsiness.

Alternative remedies

Many people swear by remedies like these, which are all available as dietary supplements.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus: The beneficial bacteria in yogurt.
• Vitamin C. An immune system booster that can lessen the production of histamine in your body.
• Quercetin: This is a flavonoid found in many foods.
• Spirulina: A blue-green algae that’s highly nutritious.

You don’t have to suffer!

Seasonal allergies can make you miserable, but there are things you can do to ease your symptoms. If you know what your trigger allergen is, you can take steps to avoid it. If you don’t, see your doctor. They can help you get to the bottom of it and find relief.

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