Pollen and mold and dust — oh my!

Runny noses, scratchy throats, itchy eyes … It must be spring, right? Not necessarily!

For many people, autumn is the time when they suffer from allergies. Ragweed pollen, a common culprit, peaks mid-August to mid-September. Mold spores abound in wet, rotting piles of leaves. And the dust mite rears its microscopic head when furnaces are turned on for the first time and blow a summer’s worth of dust around your house. And if you have a fall cold, any of these triggers can make it worse.

Kids going back to school – a place where dust, mold and other allergens abound – can also see a big spike in allergy symptoms.

How do you know it’s fall allergies?

A visit to an allergist can help discover the trigger for your symptoms. After taking a medical history and assessing your symptoms, allergists often do a skin test, which involves scratching the skin with a tiny sample of the allergen, or injecting it just under the skin. If you're allergic to the substance, the area will turn red and itchy. This means that your body is producing antibodies to the allergen.

You don’t have to suffer.

If you find out you have allergies, there are many options to treat your symptoms, including:

• Antihistamines – these block allergic reactions
• Decongestants – to clear stuffy noses
• Nasal steroid sprays – to calm inflamed nasal passages
• Allergy shots – reduce allergies by acclimating your body to doses of the allergens

Finding the right combination of treatment can provide a great deal of relief. HealthEast Allergist William Walsh says, "Allergies can be far more than a minor discomfort. It is fortunate we have the means to bring relief to those who suffer their pain and discomfort."

Previous

Newsletter Home

Next