A guide on seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergy, also known as hay fever, occurs when your body’s immune system seems a perfectly normal substance in your daily life to be dangerous. This causes a release of antibodies into your bloodstream which churns up an allergic reaction which we commonly refer to as allergies. When you face allergies all-around the year, we term them as seasonal allergies. A common example of an allergic reaction to a harmless substance is pollen, which has been known to cause hay fever amongst 8% of the US population.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies
According to the information stated by a typical seasonal allergy chart, the following are the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies, ranging from mild to severe, in no particular order or combination.
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy throat, sinuses, and ear canals
- Ear congestion
- Postnasal drainage
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Asthma
Allergies in seasons
The causes of seasonal allergies are linked to their seasons. Here are the most common causes of seasonal allergies according to the seasonal allergy chart that prevail in all seasons.
Spring – Springtime seasonal allergies are accounted for mainly by the Birch tree. Seasonal allergies originating in spring season can be caused by other allergen-releasing trees like cedar, alder, horse, chestnut, willow, and poplar.
Summer – Summertime allergies are considered the prime season for hay fever. They mostly originate from grasses, like ryegrass, and Timothy-grass, and also from weeds.
Fall – According to the seasonal allergy chart, hay fever even occurs during the fall season. Known as the season of the ragweed, most of the pollen originates from the species of ragweed during fall. Pollen from other plant specimens during this season includes nettles, mugworts, Sorrels, fat hens, and plantains.
Winter – Allergens are less common in the winter season due to the dormancy of allergens during this time of the season. However, people are prone to indoor allergens during winters due to the cold weather. Allergies which cause common reactions include mold, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroaches.
Seasonal allergy – Monthly guide
If you’re prone to allergies all year round, you may find that knowing about which allergies during the fall, winter, summer, and spring won’t help since you’ll still be prone to allergies the rest of the year. Here is a handy up-to-date seasonal allergy chart for your reference:
January – Winter times are bad days for dust allergies. To reduce chances of dust allergens piling up in your home and causing allergic reactions, use dust mite proof covers and encase them on mattresses and pillows. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter every day and make sure your home’s humidifier is set to below 55%.
February – In the northeast, tree pollen comes up as early as February, and tree pollen can cause the allergens in you to flare up anytime this month. Allergy-causing trees during this month include the catalpa, elm, hickory, olive, pecan, sycamore, and walnut.
March – This month sees the highest count of allergens coming from trees, grass, and other plant species this season. Keep your eyes on the pollen count during March. You can check the pollen count at the National Allergy Bureau of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.
April – Pollens from flowers and grass mostly affect people during this season. Although the lovely rains let flowers blossom with vigor, for people with flower allergies, it can be hard times in April.
May – May marks the end of tree allergies and is usually the final month of tree pollen and grass allergies. That translates to four months of tree allergies and that’s something you need to watch out for.
June – Grass allergies are most common during this time of the month. The severity of allergic reactions depends on temperature, rainfall amount, and time of the day. Depending on this, you may prefer staying outdoors for a while to prevent allergic reactions.
July – This marks the end of grass and other allergies, however, if you’re allergic to fungus spores, molds, and seeds, you might find some problem.
August – The mold spore count peaks during August at this time of the year. If you’re allergic to mold spores, you may want to stay indoors and run an air conditioner with a HEPA filter.
September – Ragweed starts coming back this season. Since there are windy days, pollen spreads easier as they are lightweight. Watch out for ragweed-filled allergies this season.
For October and November, mold, and fungi-related allergies are most common. During the final month of December, Christmas tree allergies are very common.
Knowing about the seasonal allergy chart and keeping it as a reference can come in handy. Know your allergies, know your times of the year, and you should be well on your better to better coping with seasonal allergies.
There are seasonal allergy in tabulated format on the Internet that will help you take take precautionary measures for your allergy.
