All About Seasonal Allergies

By | March 22, 2017

seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies are one of the most common allergies that many people suffer from. If you or a family member is suffering from them, here are a few things you should know about them.

Causes of seasonal allergies

Allergy doctors observe that there are many factors that can bring about the condition. These factors include:

Genetics: You must have observed that some people develop the condition and others don’t. This is because the allergies are largely dependent on your genetic makeup. If you have genes that trigger your immune system to be super sensitive, you will develop the condition.

The environment you grow up in: According to allergy experts, when you grow up on the farm, in a big family or in any other areas where you are exposed to pollen and other allergens, you are less likely to develop the allergies compared to other people that grow up in the city and urban areas. According to experts, when you grow in a very clean environment, your immune system isn’t too active thus it tends to be oversensitive; therefore, when it’s exposed to the pollen and other allergens, it responds to them thus provoking an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of the condition

The symptoms show up during spring and other times when the pollen count is high. The symptoms vary from mild to severe and include: sneezing, ear congestion, runny nose, water, itchy eyes, headache, postnasal drainage, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, just to mention a few.

You should note that in some cases the symptoms are very severe thus put your life at risk. To avoid complications you should see an allergy doctor as soon as you start showing the symptoms.

Treatment options for seasonal allergies

You have many options when it comes to the various ways in which you can treat the condition. These ways include:

Medications: Medications reduce the symptoms of allergy. Some of the medications work by preventing histamine from binding to the cells. Others such as steroids aid in dialing down the immune response thus your body doesn’t react when exposed to the allergens.

Immunotherapy: This is the deliberately controlled exposure to small amounts of the allergen until your body can withstand the exposure. The therapy aims at teaching the immune system that the pollen aren’t dangerous thus the body doesn’t respond to them. For a safe and successful therapy, ensure that you visit a reputable allergy clinic.