Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a foreign substance. Spring may be the season most people think of when it comes to outdoor allergies, but for Bursa and millions of other people, fall is just as harrowing.
In 2021, about 26 percent of adults and 19 percent of children, or about 81 million Americans, were diagnosed with: seasonal allergic rhinitis, According to , it is often called hay fever. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The foundation says ragweed pollen is the most common pollen allergen in the fall, especially in eastern states and the Midwest.
Other common allergens include western sagebrush and national lambsquarter or English plantain, and outdoor caviar allergens. Alternaria and CladosporiumIt is found in decaying leaves and plants. Mark RiedlProfessor of Medicine and Chief of Clinical Services for Allergy and Immunology at the University of California, San Diego, and practicing allergist/immunologist at the University of California, San Diego.
“For many people, these seasonal outdoor allergen exposures occur on top of chronic indoor allergen exposures such as dust mites and animal dander,” Riedl said. “So, for people who may have mild chronic allergy symptoms, this seasonal surge in outdoor allergens could push their symptoms to intolerable levels, potentially resulting in devastating fall allergies. there is.”
Why autumn is a tough season for allergies
In many parts of the country, mold populations begin to increase in July and continue to increase through the fall, while weed pollen starts to increase in late July and begins to grow, said Jill A. Poole, director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology. It is said to end with a strong freeze. Professor of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
For people with allergies to both, “fall is especially tough because people often enjoy things like fall walks and football games outside,” says Poole.
Add gardening and leaf raking to this list. These two common fall activities increase exposure and worsen symptoms.
“After working in the garden, I have to take a shower right away, but it’s not always convenient,” Bursa said.
Typical fall allergy symptoms include stuffy nose, tingling sore throat, watery or itchy eyes, fatigue, and headaches, among others.
“When I was younger, I would lose my voice twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall,” said Kathryn Spinelli of Holland, Michigan. Now, my voice just becomes hoarse, but it doesn’t mean I lose my voice completely. My French teacher in college used to tell me that I could only develop a proper accent when my allergies were in full swing. ”
When indoor and outdoor allergies converge
Additionally, increases in weed pollen and mold often coincide with the emergence of common respiratory viruses, “making fall an especially challenging time for patients with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses.” he said. William Sheehan, an associate professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and an attending physician in the Allergy and Immunology Division of the Severe Asthma Program at Children’s National Hospital. “For children and adolescents, emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma and respiratory illnesses typically peak in October.”
When people move indoors during the cold season, allergy sufferers are exposed to allergens in the indoor environment. “In urban environments, mouse and cockroach allergens can be a problem for allergy sufferers,” says Sheehan. “Not only are patients spending more time indoors, but windows are usually closed, so there is less ventilation and air exchange.”
Pets can also track pollen indoors, Poole added.
Researchers also say climate change is making allergies worse.
There is evidence, For example, ragweed is sprouting where it didn’t grow before and multiplying where it did. Rising temperatures have caused spring to start earlier, fall to end later, and winter to become shorter, milder, and wetter. All of this promotes mold growth and feeds pollen-producing trees and plants.
“The fall pollination season for ragweed starts earlier and lasts longer than in years past,” Sheehan says. “In recent years, the first frosts have arrived later in the fall than in recent decades. …Certain trees, grasses and weeds that were previously found only in southern regions are now Now it can grow in northern regions.”
This trend is not limited to rural areas, he added. “Urban areas may be particularly susceptible to these environmental changes,” he says. “Ragweed plants in urban environments grow faster, bloom earlier, and produce more pollen.”
All of this means that allergy sufferers like Spinelli can’t wait for a cold.
“I hate winter, but I welcome the first hard frost,” she said. “Because that’s the end of my allergies.”
Tips for dealing with fall allergies
Here’s some advice from experts on how to deal with fall allergies.
- If you have allergy-like symptoms and have not been tested for your specific allergy, get tested. Once you know what you’re allergic to, you’ll know what to avoid.
- You may have a lot of masks, but it can be helpful to wear one, especially when doing outdoor yard work or gardening. While any mask is useful, N95 masks are “even more effective because they trap particles as small as 0.04 micrometers in size.” According to UCLA Health.
- On days when pollen counts are high, stay indoors as much as possible with windows closed and an air conditioner or air purifier turned on. Resist the urge to open the windows as this allows allergens to enter the room.
- If you spent time outdoors, wash your face or take a shower and change your clothes when you come inside. Shower before going to bed. “The worst thing a patient can do is go outside in the evening, come right into the house, and go straight to bed without washing,” says Sheehan. “This will carry all the pollen onto your sheets and pillows, where it will be exposed throughout the night.”
- Saline nasal sprays and sinus rinses can help clear allergens from your upper respiratory tract, especially when used after a day outdoors.
- Immunotherapy in the form of injections or oral medications should be considered for patients with long-term, severe symptoms.
- Over-the-counter, non-sedating, long-acting antihistamines, such as Claritin and Zyrtec, may be helpful, but avoid short-acting, sedating antihistamines, such as Benadryl, says Poole. . A disorder within the person. ”
- Steroid nasal sprays (most of which are now sold over the counter) can relieve swelling and congestion in the nose and sinuses.
- Be careful with decongestant nasal sprays, as they can become “toxic” to your nose if used for more than three days. Also avoid oral decongestants such as Sudafed, which can potentially increase blood pressure, Poole said.
