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Seasonal allergy symptoms mimic that of an average cold. The sneezing, stuffy or runny nose can leave you feeling drained, fatigued, and defeated. One of the key signs of seasonal allergies is the feeling of having a cold lasting longer than usual. Seasonal allergies tend to last longer than a traditional cold, and may remain symptom causing for the duration that your allergy trigger remains persistent in the air. Those with severe seasonal allergies may experience longer durations or more intense symptoms such as coughing or wheezing. Luckily, there are treatment plans for all types of allergy triggers. Seasonal allergy treatment is inclusive of preventive measures, medications, or gradual exposure to your allergen trigger. Knowing how to treat seasonal allergies is critical in giving you your quality of life back, which is why it is essential to seek a proper medical evaluation. Some of the most common questions those suffering with seasonal allergies ask are: How long do seasonal allergies last? When is allergy season? Keep reading as we discuss these topics.
Seasonal allergies come from a variety of sources, but are ultimately our body’s response to pollen from a variety of plants. Seasonal allergies have also been termed “allergic rhinitis” (due to its ability to cause inflammation of the nose) or “hay fever”. These seasonal allergies to pollen can come from an array of plants including trees, weeds, and grass. The pollen persistent in the air becomes the trigger to our seasonal allergies.
Just like other allergies, seasonal allergies are an immune response that occurs when we are exposed to an allergen that is persistent in the environment. So, what does this immune response mean? In simplest form, an immune response to an allergen is your body mistaking the trigger as dangerous, thus kicking your immune system in full gear to try to fight it off. Cue the symptoms in which you are probably experiencing if you are reading this.
The reason seasonal allergies have been termed “seasonal” is simply due to the fact that some of the plants causing these allergies are persistent during certain seasons of the year. Unfortunately for those suffering from seasonal allergies, the seasons in which their allergen trigger is most persistent in the environment can be extremely uncomfortable. Luckily, there are treatment options available to thus suffering from seasonal allergies.
The following are the top 10 most common allergy triggers according to Web MD:
As you can see, seasonal allergies, or pollen, is amongst the top 10 offenders of allergic responses.
Allergen triggers come from varying types of plants that may pollinate at different times of the year. Because of this, when one experiences their allergies may vary depending on their allergy trigger and geographic location. In the US, spring typically brings an abundant amount of pollination, thus causing many to experience worsened seasonal allergies in that time.
Seasonal allergies can cause an array of uncomfortable symptoms. These symptoms may present similarly to other causes such as a common cold. Regardless of cause, these symptoms can be very uncomfortable. Talking to your doctor is always recommended to seek potential treatment options. The most common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:
As we have mentioned, there are an array of treatment options available to those suffering from seasonal allergies. The extent of the allergy may dictate the level of medication or treatment a medical provider or allergist provides. Treatment options may include medication, gradual exposure to allergen triggers, or preventive measures to avoid your allergy trigger. Types of medications you may be recommended to use include antihistamines and decongestants. These work to reduce those uncomfortable symptoms, potentially offering some temporary relief and may come in pill form or nasal sprays. Although predicting when your seasonal allergies will get bad may be difficult, there are some ways in which you can reduce your symptoms when you notice your allergies begin getting bad. Preventive measures may include staying indoors or avoiding outdoor activities when your allergen triggers are more persistent. If you do go outdoors, try changing your clothes and showering upon returning indoors. This helps avoid further exposure to your allergen trigger that may be residual on your clothing or skin.
The duration of your seasonal allergies may vary from year to year. As climate changes, plant patterns of pollination may begin to change as well. If you have noticed for some years your allergies simply have felt worse, your allergen trigger may have been abundantly in the environment at that time due to climatic conditions. Your seasonal allergies will last as long as the allergen trigger remains persistent in the air. Some allergen triggers seem to remain persistent for weeks or longer at a time.
One of the most telling signs of someone who suffers from seasonal allergies is the feeling of having a cold that seems to be lingering for far too long. As the symptoms of seasonal allergies are similar to that of a common cold, it can be easy to mistake your allergies for a cold. When that cold feeling seems to linger a bit too long, it may become apparent that something else is going on. Seeking a diagnosis from a medical provider can provide you with peace of mind and relief from those uncomfortable symptoms you may be encountering.
Additionally, research has suggested that allergies indeed can tend to be genetic, or in other words, they run in the family. This includes seasonal allergies. If your family members all seem to suffer from seasonal allergies, it is very possible that you suffer from them as well.
The variety of symptoms we have discussed including sneezing, runny nose, and coughing can leave us feeling defeated. This discomfort caused by your body’s immune response to your allergen trigger may leave you unable to rest comfortably, leading to a feeling of fatigue during the day. Those with asthma may be affected more severely from seasonal allergies, with triggers potentially even causing an asthma attack. With treatment options available for allergy triggers, it is recommended to talk with your doctor about ways in which you can live a life full of wellness, not misery.
If you are looking to start living a more healthy, symptom free life, it is time to visit Portland Urgent Care. You may be wondering how you could possibly reduce your symptoms or reduce the daily medications you have been reliant on to get through your allergies. At Portland Urgent Care, our provider first works with you to identify what is causing your allergies. Upon completion of testing, our provider may discuss with you the most effective treatment plan. Oftentimes, that may include receiving a small amount of the substance causing your allergies throughout a series of visits. The body begins to build tolerance or immunity gradually, thus reducing the reaction and need for medications. Some patients report improvement of symptoms in just a few weeks of treatment. With continued treatment, it is possible to completely cure your allergies to specific substances or triggers.
At Portland Urgent Care, we can work to identify your allergy cause and triggers. Aside from seasonal allergies, our team may be able to help treat other allergy causes ranging from a cat allergy, shellfish allergy, wheat allergy, and much more. Identifying your allergy trigger is critical in identifying the care that is right for you. At Portland Urgent Care, we can provide testing for an array of allergy causes. This testing is inclusive, but not limited to:
If you have ever experienced allergy symptoms, you will know how incredibly uncomfortable it can be. So uncomfortable, it sometimes prevents us from doing the things we love. At Portland Urgent Care, we understand how important living a healthy, symptom free life is.
Seasonal allergies can cause a variety of symptoms that leave us feeling under the weather and sometimes unable to enjoy the day. The duration and extent of your symptoms may vary depending on your location and what is triggering the immune response in your body. This is because certain triggers or plants flourish based on weather and climatic conditions. You may find yourself avoiding things you once loved doing in order to curb the dreaded seasonal allergy symptoms. With appropriate testing and the right treatment plan, you may be able to get back to those things while leaving your medication and variety of symptoms behind. At Portland Urgent Care, our allergist works to identify what is causing your allergies in order to offer a treatment plan that may even lead to a complete cure. With the possibility of a treatment plan out there for you, there is no need to continue to suffer from your symptoms of seasonal allergies. It is time to take the steps in identifying how to live an allergy symptom free life. Gain freedom from your allergies today and come visit our qualified team at Portland Urgent Care. Our unique model of complete care provides our patients the freedom to find a treatment that best suits their needs- because patient choice matters.
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