What to Know About Fall Allergies and How to Prevent Them

As the weather gets colder and the leaves change their color, you think you might be in the clear when it comes to your allergies. However, they don’t just happen in the spring and summer. For some of us, they are far from over. If you have symptoms of sneezing and itchy eyes, there are a few things you should know.

Mold: While it first appears in the early spring, mold can often last until the first frost, leaving you with the possibility of being exposed over an extended period of time.

Ragweed and Pollen: If you are sensitive to pollen and ragweed, fall may be a difficult time for you. A single ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion grains of pollen each season. If you suffer from springtime allergies, you will likely be affected by ragweed in the fall.

Hay Fever: You don’t have to be exposed to hay to have symptoms of hay fever, and there are two different forms: season and perennial. Some people experience both types, though the perennial symptoms are typically worse during specific pollen seasons.

Leaves: The changing colors may be beautiful, but leaves can be a major irritant for those with fall allergy concerns. If your allergies are severe, it is recommended that you wear a mask while mowing or raking the lawn.

You should be on the lookout for symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing and coughing, itchy eyes and runny nose. If you are looking for ways to help prevent or make your reactions not a severe, here are a few things you can do:

Protect and clean your home: Keep windows closed and make sure your air filters are changed and air conditioning units cleaned. If you vacuum with an HEPA filter and wash off counters at the end of each day, you can prevent pollen from entering and mold from growing.

Watch what you eat: If you are eating healthy, you won’t be happy to know that foods such as melons, cucumbers, bananas, chamomile tea and zucchini can make symptoms worse for people who suffer from ragweed and other fall allergies.

Don’t skip medicine: If you suffer from allergies on a regular basis, be sure to take over the counter allergy medicine consistently.

If you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to call our office and schedule an appointment.