While some may think of scents like cinnamon or pumpkin spice when the season turns to fall, others are breathing in something much less pleasant.
Autumn is also allergy season for those sensitive to ragweed.
"A spike in ragweed tends to mark the informal start of the fall allergy season, which typically begins in mid-August," Dr. Rachna Shah, an allergist with Loyola Medicine in Maywood, Ill says. "This time of the year, we see less tree and grass allergens and more mold and weed allergens."
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Symptoms
Symptoms of seasonal allergies include itchy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, headaches, ear itching or popping, postnasal drip and throat irritation. Some allergy symptoms mirror those of COVID-19, so seasonal allergy sufferers should be especially vigilant when adhering to treatment plans and precautions, Shah recommends.
"We saw some allergy symptoms overlapping with COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic last year, including congestion, runny nose, headaches and throat irritation," Shah shares. "As we face another spike in COVID-19, it's a good reminder to have your preventive allergy treatment plan in place."
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Treating and preventing ragweed allergies
Shah, who oversees the Loyola Medicine Daily Allergy Count, shares some information and tips to help those whose allergies are emerging now.
Seasonal treatment protocols should begin as soon as possible, Shah advises. They can take a week or more to kick in. These include
prescriptions, over-the-counter allergy medications and steroid nasal sprays.
"Allergy symptoms can worsen asthma, causing breathing difficulties, so it's important that you have all of your asthma tools," Shah says in a health system news release. "Make sure that your inhaler is up to date, not expired, that you have additional inhalers and refills on hand, and that you are taking preventive measures."
READ: Strategies For Fast Seasonal Allergy Relief
Keep windows closed on high allergy days and rinse off or change clothes after being outside. Modify activities on days when allergen levels are particularly high. Pollen counts are particularly high from dawn to 10 a.m., so shift outdoor activities to later in the day.
"Patients who are still suffering from allergy symptoms after adhering to their treatment protocols, taking preventive measures and/or modifying daily activities should be evaluated by a physician," Shah notes.
How to tell the difference between allergies and COVID
If you need further help distiguinishing the difference between allergies and COVID, try reducing your symptoms to indoor and outdoor allergies. The Allergy & Asthma Network recommends the following:
Reducing indoor allergies:
- Pre-medicate with an antihistamine and/or corticosteroid nasal spray 2 hours prior to allergen exposure. For eye allergies, use eye drops as needed.
- Avoid pollens. In late summer and early fall, levels are highest in the morning. Pollen can also surge on windy, warm days and after a thunderstorm or rainfall. Limit time outside when pollen counts are high – usually in the mornings through early afternoons.
- Avoid fallen leaves. Kids might love to leap into piles of leaves in the backyard, but even just a playful kick can release millions of mold spores into the air – and into your airways. If fall allergens leave your lungs wheezy and your eyes drippy, hire someone to clean leaves from your lawn, gutter or garden. Or ask a friend to rake your leaves in return for a free hour of babysitting or other task.
- Change clothes when coming inside.
- Wear a mask when raking leaves and doing outdoor activities.
- Monitor pollen and mold counts. Airborne pollens can travel for several miles.
- Keep windows and doors shut at your home; close windows of your car while driving.
- Take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after time outside.
- Dry laundry indoors rather than on a clothesline outdoors.
Reducing outdoor allergies:
- Before you turn on the heat, change the filter. Then, contact a licensed professional for a tune-up – after all, your heating system is the lungs of your home, so make sure it’s breathing properly. Replace air filters in your home monthly.
- Give high-humidity areas of your home a fall cleaning. These include the bathroom, laundry room and kitchen. Remove shower heads and soak them in a homemade vinegar solution to get rid of hidden mold, and repair any leaky faucets and pipes. If you need to repaint or wallpaper, make sure all walls are clean and free of any mold. Use a wall product that has been treated to reduce mold.
- Make your home a smoke-free environment. As the weather grows colder, smokers may be tempted to smoke indoors. Don’t let them.
- Give your fireplace a facelift. If you or someone in your family has asthma, lighting a strong-smelling wood fire in your fireplace or using scented candles could set off symptoms. Instead, use electric candles to create a seasonal glow. Also, remember that fireplaces need cleaning. If you have burned wood a lot, get a professional to thoroughly clean the fireplace, flue and chimney. Gas fireplaces must be cleaned as well. Use a homemade vinegar solution to clean glass doors and vacuum any debris.
- Show sheet savvy. When you’re swapping summer linens for winter ones, tuck them in zippered, plastic bags so that they’ll be fresh and clean for next year. Replace non-washable, heavy blankets – which are perfect places for dust mites – with several layers of breathable, machine-washable fabrics. And be sure to cover your pillows and mattresses with dust mite-proof covers.
- Run an exhaust fan or crack a window for ventilation during and after showers. If you don’t already have one, buy an inexpensive, mildew-free shower curtain.
- De-clutter your home. Keep dust and dust mites from accumulating by vacuuming upholstered furniture, carpets and crowded closets weekly. Remove any piles of newspapers, magazines, and other piles of papers. Hire a professional cleaning service if needed.
