Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Allergies, Asthma, Daily Health Solutions, Healthy Living
on October 23, 2011

Many people look forward to the change of seasons. Sadly, for another beleaguered group of individuals, the changing seasons signal something more unpleasant, uncomfortable and trying. Anyone with seasonal allergy symptoms will understand this to be allergy season, and along with that are many physical developments that need to be managed. Understanding seasonal allergy symptoms is the first step in their control and eventual eradication.

Cold or allergies? It’s the age-old question. In some ways, the reason doesn’t much matter — you feel rotten either way. Seasonal allergies produce symptoms that are very cold-like. Runny nose, sneezing, and congested and painful sinuses can signal the onset of allergies or the common cold. Symptoms also may affect the eyes, which often become itchy and watery upon exposure to the allergen.

Causes of seasonal allergy symptoms are many. Allergies may feel like a cold, but are the result of an environmental irritant, not of a virus. Many things can cause seasonal allergy symptoms to occur. The irritant can come from an indoor or outdoor allergen source. Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, mildew, leaves and grasses all have the potentially same effect in people so predisposed. In these cases, the body's immune system views the allergen as it would a harmful infection and sends out the attack. Once exposed to the allergen, it takes mere minutes for the body to send out helper chemicals, including histamines that cause the uncomfortable symptoms.

Seasonal allergies are common. If you have seasonal allergies, do not be dismayed. You are not alone. The Mayo Clinic states that approximately 20 percent of people are affected by seasonal allergies.

Seasonal allergy symptoms can occur any time. You may think that the change of seasons is the only time you should be experiencing allergic symptoms. That is not true. In fact, seasonal allergy symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, headache, sneezing and even congested sinuses can happen any time of year, all year, or wax and wane with peaks in the spring, summer and fall.

There's hope for seasonal allergy sufferers. Fortunately, you can do many things you can do to alleviate your symptoms. Be certain you get checked out by your physician and obtain a proper diagnosis before treating for seasonal allergy symptoms. Medicating yourself unnecessarily is wasteful and potentially harmful.