Weather plays a critical role in triggering seasonal allergies. Season allergies are the allergic reactions that typically present during certain season of a year such as spring, fall or summer. Winter is not a common period for allergies as the cold weather prohibits the blooming and flourishing of many plants. Although seasonal allergies does not caused only by plants such as weeds, grasses and trees, they do reach the peak period when plants bloom and flourish.

Pollen, mold spores and Dust

The main causes of seasonal allergies are pollen, mold spores as well as dust. Pollen is a small grainy powder released by the plants for reproductive purpose. Allergy to pollen is commonly known as hay fever. Pollen tends to become airborne in the season like spring, summer as well as fall. For this reason, they are the common occurrences and the period where most of the individuals who are highly sensitive to pollens have hay fever.

Unfortunately, if you are severely allergic to pollen, mold spores and dust, there is actually little thing that you can do about it. Antihistamines are the commonly used medicines to control and combat the histamine released during allergic reaction, but they can not be used as a cure to eliminate seasonal allergies. The best way is to avoid going around the area where the pollen, dust and mold spores index are high. This will lower the risk of encounter with airborne mold spores or pollen that will trigger allergic reaction.

Seasonal Allergies or Cold?

The common syndromes of seasonal allergies are sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes. Some may have allergic rhinitis symptoms as well. The symptoms of having a cold or allergies always cause a lot of confusions as they can be very similar, but there is a great deal of difference between them.

Some of the key difference between seasonal allergies and cold are as following:

• Seasonal allergies are not usually associated with fever whereas a cold may often accompanied by a fever.
• Seasonal allergies react well to antihistamines whereas colds react well to decongestants.
• Seasonal allergies occur during the peak season of summer, spring and fall whereas a cold usually during winter season.
• Seasonal allergies are dependent on the individual’s reaction to allergens while cold is contagious and can easily transmitted from one person to another.
• The duration of the symptoms of seasonal allergies exist as long as you are exposed to the allergen whereas the symptoms of having a cold are typically last from 5-10 days.

Filed under: allergy