As the name suggests, an allergy that occurs in a particular season is known as seasonal allergy. Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is the most common seasonal allergy. However, there are some other allergies as well like skin & eye infections that you can get throughout the year. Different seasons bring different allergies and we know how you can keep them away with some simple steps. Firstly, let’s look at what causes these allergies.
Allergies occur when your immune system identifies a harmless substance as harmful, whether it’s general or seasonal allergies. One of the most common allergies- hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is caused by pollen or dust that affects the eyes and nose, causing runny nose and watery eyes.
Trees are responsible for most springtime seasonal allergies. The pollen from the trees can act as an allergen in some individuals causing spring allergies.
The hay-cutting season is the most common period to cause allergies during summer. But the real triggers of summertime seasonal allergies are grasses as well as certain weeds. According to several studies, grasses are the most common trigger for people with hay fever.
Pollen from different plants causes seasonal allergies in some individuals during the rainy season. Mold is infamous during the monsoon because there is more dampness than usual. So, the mold causes allergies like skin allergies, allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma very often. Wet, sticky shoes or clothes can cause itching and lead to infection. A lot of rainwear can cause allergic reactions on the skin as well.
Seasonal allergies and asthma go hand in hand in many people. Some people do outgrow certain allergies — or rather their body doesn’t have as strong of an allergic response. You may believe that your allergic asthma is going away but you might just be in remission. Even after years without symptoms, an allergen exposure can trigger an allergy or an attack of asthma, precaution is always advised.
Dr Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
It’s very likely for people to mistake an allergic reaction for a cold considering it is winter. This is also the time when indoor allergens are lurking around in dust particles. Most outdoor allergens are dormant during winter. So stay alert and observe reactions to indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, dust mites or cockroaches.
Seasonal allergy symptoms range from mild to severe. The most common include:
Less common symptoms include:
Mostly, people suffering from hay fever also suffer from asthma. If an individual suffers from both hay fever and asthma, they are most likely to trigger an asthma attack because of the seasonal allergens.
Sometimes wearing a mask for people allergic to dust, pollutants and pollens when stepping out can be a saviour from serious allergic episodes.
Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
The best treatment or management for seasonal allergies is avoiding allergens that trigger your symptoms. It is recommended to seek for proper medications that are available for treatment, rather than trying alternative treatments to help in seasonal allergy relief. Here are a few ways that can help you in seasonal allergy prevention:
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Hay fever is another name for allergic rhinitis, most commonly used to describe a seasonal allergic reaction to pollen such as ragweed. It affects up to 1 in 5 people at some point in their life. Best way to treat them is avoiding allergens.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka – MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)
Although “seasonal allergies” generally refer to grass, pollen, and mould, the second group of triggers are also closely associated with particular seasons. These include:
Also Read: What Happens If You Eat Mold: Decoding the Potential Health Risks
Keeping an eye on your local weather forecast can help you predict how bad an allergy season will be.
When you can’t avoid your allergens, there are safe medications available in the market. You should consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The symptoms of seasonal allergies can make an individual uncomfortable, therefore if you suspect any symptoms, please consult a doctor right away to seek proper medication.
For more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
You sneeze for the first time that day. What’s the first thing to cross your mind? Is it just an irritation? Or the onset of a cold? And then the sneezes continue. For much longer than it’s expected. Is it still a cold or something else? What if it’s an allergy? If asked, can you differentiate between a cold and an allergy? It’s a question that puzzles many but only a few can answer. Although the duration of symptoms can be a huge giveaway, there are also multiple factors that can help you differentiate between the two.
Firstly, the causes of either are totally different. A person gets cold when a virus enters the body. Different viruses can lead to different things and there are hundreds of them out there.
A person can be infected with cold on exposure to the people with the same infection” The virus responsible can generate immune response such as coughing, sneezing, stuffy nose etc. Cold is highly contagious. A cold usually lasts for a week and most of the times the symptoms subside beyond this period”. In other words, our immune system erroneously considers substances such as dust, pollen, mould, etc. as harmful substances. These are termed “Allergens”.
But allergies are different, they are the result of an overactive immune system. In other words, they occur when your immune system considers a harmless material as harmful such as dust, pollen, mould, etc. As soon as an allergen enters your body, the immune system releases certain chemicals as a response. These chemical substance triggers symptoms just as during a cold such as sneezing, coughing, swelling in the passageways of nose etc.
Common cold is caused by a virus infection, while allergic rhinitis is a specific immune system response to an allergic trigger. Allergic rhinitis symptoms like repeated sneezing, postnasal drip and nose stuffiness begin immediately upon exposure to a trigger, while common cold symptoms do not start until 2-3 days after virus exposure.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Although some of the symptoms of cold and allergy are similar to each other. While a cold can only cause discomfort lasting a couple of days, an allergy can be much severe and sometimes fatal. Here’s how you can differentiate between them:
Nasal Allergies | Cold | |
Symptoms | Sneezing & itchy eyes | Clear nasal discharge that turns into yellow or green. |
Duration | Only until the individual is exposed to the allergen and a few hours after it. | Lasts only a week or two. |
Sneezing | Rapid & multiple times in sequence. | Not as frequent. |
Season | Summer, Monsoon, Spring. | Most common during winter. |
Nasal discharge | Thin, watery or clear. | The thick residue is usually yellow or green. |
Fever | Never. | Rarely. |
Also read: Debunking Myths: Does Your Heart Really Stop When You Sneeze?
Cold urticaria is a rare condition that causes an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. It usually triggers a rash or hives after exposure to cold air, water, food or drink. Get yourself tested and take precautions whenever you come across any weather changes.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
While cold can be prevented through personal hygiene and avoiding contact with those infected. It’s best to drink a lot of fluid until the symptoms subside if you do get infected. If it’s the flu, it’s advisable to take proper medication to treat it in a better way.
However, an allergy can be prevented by avoiding triggers when possible or ensuring the environment around you is hygienic. Allergy treatment doesn’t exist, but it can be managed with certain steps. Determining the allergy types via allergy testing is essential as it helps to manage them better. Understanding the difference between cold and allergy can be confusing, but if your symptoms last for more than two weeks, it’s recommended you seek proper medical attention to determine the allergy.
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For more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free
Allergies are recurrent in nature. It’s all about how your body functions during an allergic attack. An allergy happens because the immune system mistakes a harmless foreign particle to be harmful. The immune system, therefore, becomes overactive when an allergen enters the body. This leads to the releasing of chemicals (histamine) from the immune system. Normally these chemicals protect the body from viruses but during an allergy, it leads to unpleasant reactions. That is what makes allergies so hard to treat. An immune system has a specific way of reacting to things and it’s not only challenging but also impossible to change that process.
Managing allergies can be difficult. Seeking medical attention is probably the best way to get a proper allergy diagnosis. Identifying allergy types through allergy testing is important as it helps in receiving proper medication.
It’s easier to manage allergies by avoiding the triggers altogether. For instance, if you have a food allergy, refraining to consume that particular food item helps in keeping the allergy at bay. Something like a food allergy can be managed easily but what if you’re allergic to dust mites, mold or pollen? Limiting the exposure to the allergen is the best way to prevent yourself from discomfort. While regular vacuuming and dusting keep the dust mites away, limiting yourself indoors or wearing a mask during pollen high count seasons can help manage the respective allergies.
Here are some allergy home remedies that help in preventing and managing allergies.
If these remedies for allergies fail, you should seek the help of your doctor and work out an allergy management plan. Setting up an appointment every few months is advisable, so you can discuss if the symptoms have gotten worse or better or you’ve become prone to a new allergy. The medication for your allergy can be increased or decreased depending on the severity of your condition. Although allergies may not have a cure, there are plenty of ways in which you can manage them.
For more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free
Also Read: What is the Cause of Nipple Pain? Understanding and Managing Discomfort
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Allergens are everywhere and you need to be mindful before coming in contact with them! Be it trees, grass, weed, pets, dust; an individual is prone to get an allergy anytime and anywhere. You can surely determine & beat them with allergy testing, but we’ve put down a few allergy tips on how you can beat them:
A gorgeous day can ruin your mood in a split-second if the pollen count is high. Especially during some seasons, the pollen count can be at its maximum, so ensure you stay indoors to keep the allergens away and take essential allergy care.
A nasal rinse cleans mucus from your nose and can give you relief from various signs & symptoms of allergies. It also can whisk away bacteria and thin mucus and cut down on postnasal drip. With some easy steps, you can get rid of the bacteria-
Do check with your doctor how to do this before trying it at home for the first time.
Each time you step out, you encounter millions of pieces that can trigger allergies.
A healthy diet always helps in allergy management when it comes to food allergies –
It’s better to know what the problem is before taking some of the steps. Make an appointment with your doctor who can help you identify your allergy triggers. It will make it easier to manage or avoid them.
For more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free
