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.”
READ: Your Face Mask Is Shielding You From Allergens
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.”
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