Seasonal Allergies

Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.

Allergy is an excessive reaction of the immune system to substances in the environment (allergens). In the case of seasonal allergies, flowering plants, including trees, produce pollen that causes allergic reactions. Pollen allergy is also called hay fever.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

• Nervous system - drowsiness, irritability, headaches.
• Eyes — an increased secretion of tears, sensitivity to light, redness of the conjunctiva and sclera, a gritty feeling in the eyes, eyelid swelling and itching.
• Respiratory system — itching in the nose and nasopharynx, coughing, episodes of repeated sneezing, increased production of clear mucus, pain in the maxillary sinuses.
• Additional ear symptoms - pain in the parotid region, crackling while chewing, ear congestion.
• Skin reactions — diathesis, hives, atopic dermatitis (the rarest symptom of seasonal allergies).

An allergic reaction to pollen can occur even in people who live a long way from the flowering plant. Since pollen grains are tiny micro-particles, the wind easily picks them up and carries them over long distances. And hypersensitivity of the immune system makes the body react to even the smallest pollen particles. 

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The Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS)

This is an allergic reaction caused by cross-reactivity between pollen allergens and foods. Thus, certain fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts can cause unpleasant symptoms in people with seasonal pollen allergies (hay fever).

• Foods that cross-react with tree pollens: apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum, carrot, kiwi, cherry, wild cherry, banana, potato, nuts, parsley, dill, celery, cumin, honey.
• If you are allergic to wheat and other cereals, you may be reacting to beer, soy, peanuts, tomatoes, corn.
• Mugwort pollens are known to cross-react with cumin, fennel, anise, sunflower seeds, coriander, bell peppers, celery, dill, potatoes.

Symptoms of PFAS 

• itchy mouth
• sore throat
• swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat
• itchy ears (rarely)
• hives on the mouth (rarely)

This type of food allergy involves an allergic reaction that only affects the mouth. The symptoms do not require treatment and go away on their own immediately after exposure to the allergen stops.

How to Know if You Have Seasonal Allergies 

• The disease is characterized by recurrent symptoms that happen in particular seasons every year during the flowering season of certain plants.
• Allergic reactions develop in about the same months and even days, except for hot or cold weather when the pollinating season starts earlier or later.
• The concentration of pollen in the air can influence the severity of allergic manifestations.
• Rainy weather brings relief for allergy sufferers as the amount of pollen tends to reduce.
• Most plants produce massive quantities of pollen during hot weather, increasing the manifestation of allergy symptoms.

Tips to Cope with Seasonal Allergies

• Start your allergy treatment on time. It is important to visit a physician before pollen season begins.
• Protect your home against pollen. Dust with a damp cloth regularly, wash clothes after being outdoors and take a shower.
• Think of ways to organize your day indoors when there is a high concentration of pollen in the air. The pollen count is usually highest in the middle of the day. Besides, an increase in the amount of allergenic pollen in the air can be linked to periods of hot and dry weather. You can track the pollen count at allergyinatlanta.com
• Avoid eating foods that can cause cross-reaction symptoms.
• Get enough sleep and break bad habits.

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Learn More About Seasonal Allergies

• What is Allergy?
• Cold, Flu, or Seasonal Allergy?
• Pollen Count History
• FAQ of Pollen Counts
• Seasonal Allergies | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment