What causes seasonal allergies? When do allergy symptoms typically start in spring, summer, fall, and winter? Get a comprehensive overview of the seasonal allergy cycle and how to manage it.

Seasonal Allergies: The Pollen Cycle Across the Year

Seasonal allergies, often referred to as “hay fever,” are a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While they may be lumped together as a single entity, the reality is that each season brings its own unique set of allergens that can trigger symptoms. Understanding the seasonal pollen cycle is key to effectively managing allergy flare-ups.

Spring Allergies: The Blooming Season

For spring allergy sufferers, the transition to warmer weather and the resurgence of nature can come at a price. Between February and May, trees begin to pollinate, releasing tiny pollen particles into the air. This tree pollen is the primary driver of spring allergy symptoms, which can include a runny nose, itchy eyes, breathing difficulties, and skin irritation.

It’s a common misconception that showy, flowering plants are the main culprits for spring allergies. In reality, the most problematic plants are those that rely on wind to disperse their pollen, such as oak, cottonwood, birch, maple, and other common trees in the Midwest region. These wind-pollinated plants do not need to attract insects, so their pollen is lightweight and airborne, making it easy to be inhaled or get into the eyes.

Summer Allergies: Grass Pollen Takes the Stage

As spring transitions into summer, the allergy spotlight shifts to grass pollen. Northern pasture grasses like June/Kentucky Blue, Timothy, Orchard, and Rye begin pollinating in May and peak toward the end of the month, carrying through the first few weeks of June.

In the Midwest, Memorial Day is often seen as a marker for the height of grass pollen season. Individuals with grass pollen allergies may experience a resurgence of symptoms during this time.

The July Hiatus: A Brief Allergy Respite

Interestingly, even allergies take a vacation. The hot, dry weather of July tends to provide a short break for individuals who are allergic to a wide range of pollens (known as “pan-pollen” allergies). This is because the tree and grass pollination seasons have come to an end, and mold spore counts are often low due to the lack of rain. This brief respite, however, is short-lived.

Fall Allergies: Weed Pollen and Mold Spores

As summer transitions into fall, a new set of allergy triggers takes center stage. Back-to-school time often marks the onset of weed pollination, with ragweed being a particularly common and problematic culprit. Other weed plants that can contribute to fall allergies include English plantain, lamb’s quarter, pigweed, and Russian thistle.

In addition to weed pollen, fall also brings a surge in mold spore counts. As leaves and plants begin to decompose, mold thrives in the damp conditions, releasing its spores into the air. Outdoor activities like gardening, farming, or hiking can increase exposure to these mold spores.

Winter Allergies: Mold Takes the Spotlight

While the primary focus of this guide has been on pollen-driven seasonal allergies, it’s important to note that the only “seasonal” allergen typically encountered during the winter months in the Midwest is mold. Mold grows best in warm, damp conditions, and can spike in activity during periods of milder winter weather. This can be confusing for individuals who may not expect allergy symptoms to flare up during the colder months.

Managing Seasonal Allergies: The Role of Allergists

For individuals struggling with seasonal allergies, it is crucial to work with a board-certified allergist. These specialists can help identify the specific allergens that are most bothersome, allowing for more targeted avoidance measures and treatment strategies. Through allergy testing and personalized care, allergists can help patients find relief and better manage their symptoms throughout the year.

By understanding the seasonal pollen and mold cycles, individuals can be better prepared to manage their allergy symptoms and find the relief they need to fully enjoy the changing seasons. Working closely with an allergist can be a game-changer in the quest for long-term allergy management.

Seasonal Allergies: A Month-by-Month Guide

ENT & Allergy Specialists of Northwest Ohio

Seasonal allergies often get lumped into one category. However, each season has its own unique allergens. Follow the guide below to see which months you can expect to see a flare up of which allergens.

Spring: February – May

For spring allergy sufferers, the joys of warmer weather, birds chirping and flowers blooming come at a price. Bothersome nose and eye symptoms, breathing difficulties and skin allergies can set in as trees begin to pollinate. Tree pollen season occurs between February and May in Ohio. Season length and timing varies each year depending on weather. In 2019 for example, due to a long, harsh winter, trees did not begin pollinating until March. Because pollen is microscopic, we cannot see it in the air and often do not know when the season has started until symptoms begin.

A common myth regarding spring allergies is that because symptoms often start in correlation with blooming flowers, the flower pollens contribute to the problem. Our allergies are due to plants that spread pollen by wind (anemophilous plants), which is how the pollen enters our eyes, noses, mouths or skin. These plants are not showy or eye-catching because they do not need to be. The plants we typically notice are usually flowering plants that are pretty for the purpose of catching the attention of pollinators like bees and other insects. These plant pollens are spread from plant to plant by the insects that visit them (entomophilous plants). For this reason, most of our pollen exposure is due to pollen in the air outdoors, and thus our allergies are to wind-pollinated plants.

Many trees are primarily pollinated by wind, and tree pollens are the main springtime allergen. Mold spores also contribute to spring allergies but are most bothersome in the fall. Common trees in the northwest Ohio region that contribute to allergy symptoms include oak, cottonwood, birch, maple, sycamore, ash, elm, hickory, walnut, beech and mulberry. There is limited cross-reactivity between tree pollens. This means that while some trees are related and pollens are somewhat similar, many tree pollens have unique features that prevent the ability to create a single treatment for tree pollen allergy. Allergists are specially trained physicians who can test patients to multiple different tree pollens and treat each patient uniquely for their specific tree pollen allergies.

Summer: May – June

Late spring and early summer allergies mainly involve grass pollen. In the allergy world, we often think of Memorial Day as a reminder of peak grass pollen season. Northern pasture grasses like June/Kentucky Blue, Timothy, Orchard and Rye are commonly grown in the Midwest. They begin pollinating in May, peak toward the end of the month and carry through the first few weeks of June.

July Hiatus

Even allergies take a vacation. Hot, dry July weather tends to give a short reprieve for pan-pollen allergic patients (those allergic to tree, grass and weed pollens). Trees and grasses are no longer pollinating. Without rain, mold spore counts are often low and fall plants have not yet begun the pollination process.

Fall: August – November

Back-to-school time often marks the onset of weed pollination and resurgence of allergy symptoms. The term “hay fever” is often used to describe these symptoms and is derived from the “illness” that farmers used to obtain when harvesting hay in the fall. With the discovery of pollen allergies, it was recognized that fall symptoms were due to ragweed pollen rather than due to hay exposure. August 15 is endearingly referred to amongst allergists as the start of ragweed season. Other common weed plants that produce pollen allergens include English plantain, lamb’s quarter, pigweed, Russian thistle, yellow dock, sorrel, firebush, cocklebur and marsh elder.

Mold spore counts tend to rise dramatically in the fall with falling leaves and dying plants. Molds thrive in the decomposing plant matter and their spores float into the air. Gardening in mulch or dirt, farming or hiking in the woods can also increase exposures to mold spores this time of year.

Winter: December – January

While this article primarily focuses on pollen season, the only “seasonal” allergen we encounter during winter in the Midwest is mold. Mold grows best above freezing temperatures and when it is damp, such as after rainfall. During warm periods of winter, mold spore counts can temporarily spike, which can be confusing for mold allergic patients that may not be expecting an allergy flare during winter months.

For seasonal allergy sufferers, it is important to meet with a board-certified allergist to identify which allergens are most bothersome and to allow for more focused attention on avoidance measures and treatment options.

How Long Do Seasonal Allergies & Symptoms Last?

Seasonal allergies affectup to 30% of the global population, making allergy symptoms extremely common among adults and children. A seasonal allergy develops when your immune system overreacts to something in your environment, whether it’s burning bush in the fall or grass pollen in the spring. So how long do seasonal allergies last? It depends on the type of allergy you have and how you treat the symptoms.

In this article, you’ll learn about the most common seasonal allergy triggers, how long each allergy season lasts and what you can do to ease allergy symptoms at any time of year.

Allergies by Season

Each season comes with its own set of allergy triggers based on the temperature, moisture level and other environmental conditions. One of the most common seasonal allergies is hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. Although hay fever is associated with spring allergens, the symptoms can last for several months. Other types of seasonal allergies can also span across several seasons. That’s why the answer to, “When is allergy season?” isn’t always so simple.

Spring Allergies

Spring allergies typically begin in March and end in May. One of the most common allergy triggers for spring is pollen, the fine yellow powder found on plants. Insects and birds carry pollen from place to place, as does the wind. Pets also pick up pollen on their paws and carry it indoors, exposing you to higher levels of this allergen. At some points, the pollen count is so high that cars and trucks end up covered in the yellow powder if they’re parked outdoors for long periods of time. This is typically when the symptoms of a pollen allergy get worse.

If you’re allergic to pollen, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Itchy throat and/or eyes

Mold and Dust Mites

Spring rain increases the amount of moisture in the air, creating the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold species — such as Penicillium, Aspergillus and Alternaria — trigger sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, cough and stuffy nose. If you have asthma, you may also start wheezing or experience shortness of breath. Mold has spores that travel through the air. When you breathe in, some of the spores may end up in your lungs and make your allergy symptoms worse.

Dust mites also thrive in high levels of humidity, making spring a common time for dust mite allergies to flare up. These mites don’t bite or sting, but they do feed on the dead skin cells your body sheds. Dust mite allergies aren’t usually caused by an allergy to the mites themselves, but by an allergy to proteins found in their waste products. Dead mites also produce these proteins as they break down. If you have a dust mite allergy, you may experience sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose. For people with asthma, dust mites are a major trigger of asthma attacks.

Other Spring Allergens

During the spring, plants flourish, causing them to grow rapidly. Trees grow new leaves, weeds pop up around the yard and grasses grow much taller and greener. As a result, you may experience worsening allergy symptoms. Birch trees, juniper trees, maple trees, Bermuda grass and fescue are all examples of plants that can trigger spring allergies.

Summer Allergies

Summer allergies begin in June and end in September, but they typically peak in June and July. If your summer allergies seem especially severe, it may be because you naturally spend more time outdoors during this time of year. Swimming, hiking and attending cookouts can all put you into contact with more allergens than usual. You may develop allergy symptoms if you’re exposed to these common allergens:

• Mold
• Tree pollen
• Nettle
• Mugwort
• Grass pollen
• Ragweed

Fall Allergies

Next to spring allergies, fall allergies are the most common, beginning in late summer and continuing through September or October. How long your fall allergy symptoms last depends on where you live. In cooler areas, fall allergy season typically ends in September. It may extend through October if you live in a milder climate. Ragweed travels long distances, so be aware that you could experience symptoms of a ragweed allergy even if you don’t have a lot of ragweed in your neighborhood. Mold and dust mites are also common allergens during the fall.

Winter Allergies

During the winter, the pollen count drops, and you start spending more time indoors. That’s why many people are surprised to find out that their allergy symptoms continue from November through February. Even though you’re not exposed to as much pollen, you spend more time around dust mites, pet dander, mold and other indoor allergens. Turning on your furnace disturbs these allergens, increasing your exposure. Your symptoms may be even worse if you have central heating, as allergens can easily travel through the vents in your home.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Although each season comes with different allergy triggers, there’s a lot of overlap in the symptoms they cause. You may experience itchy eyes, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing or dark circles under your eyes. If you’re allergic to dust mites, you may also have sinus pressure, red eyes or itching in your throat or on the roof of your mouth.

During the spring, pollen settles on fruits and vegetables, so you may consume it rather than breathing it in. If you do, you may have an itchy tongue or experience itching on the roof of your mouth. Some people with seasonal allergies also develop postnasal drip, which causes mucus to drip down the back of the throat.

Why Won’t Your Seasonal Allergies Go Away?

If you react to multiple allergens, it may seem like your seasonal allergy symptoms never go away. The seasons also tend to overlap, so even if you only react to one or two allergens, you may be exposed to them for several months at a time. Allergy symptoms tend to persist if you don’t take steps to reduce your exposure to common allergens.

For severe allergies, it’s important to wash your hands regularly, stay indoors when the pollen count is high and keep windows closed to prevent allergens from entering your home. If you’re allergic to dust mites, washing your bedding regularly can reduce the number of mites in your bedroom. People with severe allergy symptoms may also need to take the following precautions:

• Wear a mask when spending time outdoors.
• Avoid pulling weeds, mowing the lawn and doing other activities that increase exposure to environmental allergens.
• Wash clothing immediately after spending time outdoors.
• Use an air purifier with a highly efficient filter to remove allergens from the air.

Manage Seasonal Allergy Triggers With Air Purification

One of the best ways to ease seasonal allergy symptoms is to eliminate as many allergens as possible from your home. Air purification uses filters to remove tiny particles from the air, reducing your exposure to allergens, which makes it easier to breathe. Some filters trap pollen, dust mites and other extremely small molecules, while others break these molecules down into harmless substances.

To get the most out of your air purifier when combating allergies, put it in your bedroom to reduce the amount of pollen and other allergens you breathe in while sleeping. Consider taking the following steps to make your symptom management even more effective:

• Keep pets out of the bedroom to prevent dander from getting trapped in your bedding.
• Use high-efficiency filters in your HVAC system.
• Replace carpeting, which traps allergens, with wood, laminate or other hard surfaces.
• Use window blinds or shades instead of curtains.
• Wash sheets and blankets frequently. Use hot water if possible.
• Put a plastic cover over your mattress.

PECO Filter Technology to Destroy Allergens

Photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) has revolutionized air purification by not only capturing allergy triggers and other pollutants, but also destroying them. Traditional purification just collects particles on a filter that eventually becomes a source of allergens. That’s wherePECO filter technology comes in.

PECO filters are capable of destroying organic particles like mold and pollen to reduce allergens indoors. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses are also destroyed by PECO, which helps reduce the risk of exposure to the cold, flu, and other illnesses. 

How PECO Filtration Works

PECO filtration works by producing free radicals inside the filter from water molecules present in the air. These free radicals act as oxidizers, triggering chemical reactions that break down microorganisms and organic matter into carbon dioxide, water and trace minerals. Allergy-causing particles destroyed in this way can’t return to the air, which makes it easier to manage your seasonal allergy symptoms.

Shop Molekule’s Air Purifiers for Seasonal Allergy Relief

Take a stand against your seasonal allergies and visitMolekule to learn more about the science behind air purification and browse our selection of award-winning air purifiers.

How to alleviate allergies in spring – Healthcare Institution of Higher Education “Vologda City Polyclinic No. 1”

For many people, sunny spring days are marred by sneezing, coughing, redness of the eyes and runny nose. 40% of the adult population suffers from seasonal allergies, and the peak of exacerbations occurs precisely in the spring. A surge in incidence is observed in late April and early May, it is at this time that trees and shrubs begin to bloom.

Spring allergy can be triggered not only by plant pollen, but also by malnutrition, weakened immunity, low stress resistance of the body.

How to recognize seasonal allergies

Allergies
is the body’s response to stimuli. On hit
allergens in the body, the main task of the immune system is to destroy
antigens, and she begins to fight them intensely, as a result
the protein histamine is produced, which is the culprit of all
unpleasant allergy symptoms.

The main allergens are chemicals, drugs, herbs, foods, dust, lint, mold and pollen. Depending on the type of antigen, different symptoms appear and individual treatment is selected.

Symptoms of spring allergy (hay fever) appear suddenly and persist for a long time until the flowering of plants ends. Often the signs of pollinosis are confused with the manifestations of the common cold and the wrong treatment is started, which exacerbates the problem.

The characteristic symptoms of seasonal allergies are conjunctivitis, tearing, nasal congestion and swelling, and sore throat. In some cases, the skin becomes dry and flaky, skin rashes may occur, accompanied by itching and redness.

Sometimes
there are symptoms of general intoxication of the body – weakness,
dizziness, fatigue, nausea, sweating. The appearance of dry
coughing may be accompanied by attacks of bronchial asthma.

In order not to confuse allergies with colds, remember that allergic reactions are not accompanied by fever. Respiratory diseases disappear after 7-10 days, and with pollinosis, the symptoms persist for a month. In any case, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin competent treatment.

How to relieve spring allergies

Any therapy begins with an accurate diagnosis. To do this, the patient needs to donate blood for a laboratory test, which will confirm the presence of antibodies in the blood. Skin tests are considered the most effective diagnostic method, which help to quickly identify the allergen and choose the optimal treatment.

Avoid exposure to allergens

The most effective way to manage allergies is to avoid exposure to allergens. This method helps a lot in cases of allergies to household chemicals, animal hair, sometimes you just need to exclude some product from the diet. But in the case of an allergy to flowering, it will not be possible to completely avoid contact with the allergen.

Medical treatment

Reception
antihistamine drugs are the most common way
combat seasonal allergies. These drugs really help
symptoms, but it is important to understand that they do not cure allergies, but only temporarily
improve well-being. In addition, all drugs have their own
contraindications and side effects, so take them without prescription
doctor is unsafe for health.

In most cases, a person starts taking antihistamines when they begin to be very bothered by unpleasant symptoms. But doctors recommend starting treatment 2-3 weeks before the start of violent flowering of plants. In addition, the body of an allergic person very quickly gets used to a particular drug, so the medications used must be changed periodically.

Compliance with a hypoallergenic diet

During an exacerbation of the disease, the diet should be light food with a predominance of hypoallergenic vegetables and fruits. It is advisable to give up honey, nuts, citrus fruits, chocolate, sweet carbonated drinks from red and orange vegetables and fruits. Also, do not get carried away with exotic products. Add grains and dairy products to your diet. Proper balanced nutrition will help in the fight against hay fever and strengthen the immune system.

How to alleviate allergy symptoms yourself

During an exacerbation of the disease, follow simple rules:

1. Try to go outside as little as possible during the dusting of plants, walk in calm weather, preferably late in the evening.
2. When walking, it is advisable to cover the skin and hair as much as possible. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, sleeved clothing.
3. Do not open windows during the flowering period, and do not dry clothes in the open air – pollen can easily get on them.
4. After returning from the street, you should immediately wash your face. Try to wash your hands as often as possible and take a shower (preferably a contrast one).
5. During exacerbations of the disease, it is not recommended to use any cosmetics and perfumes. Give up alcohol and do not use decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.
6. Pets are carriers of allergens. Therefore, during the flowering period of plants, they need to be bathed and combed more often.
7. Wet clean every day and install humidifiers in your home.

It is worth remembering that an allergic predisposition persists throughout a person’s life. Therefore, allergy sufferers need to take care of their health in advance.

Spring and summer allergies

As soon as the sun begins to warm up and the snow melts, the soil, last year’s foliage and withered grass are exposed. This is a very good breeding ground for various fungi – mold, yeast, aspergillus. The spring wind carries microscopic fungal spores that can cause allergy symptoms. The time of occurrence of this type of allergy – fungal – is from the beginning of snow melting (usually March in our lane) until the end of May – June.

Another allergen associated with snow melting, evaporation of moisture from roads and sidewalks is anti-icing agents. The reaction to chemicals can continue throughout the snowmelt period.

However, the most famous and, according to statistics, the most common type of spring-summer allergy is pollinosis (hay fever) – a reaction to the pollen of flowering trees and grasses. From about mid-March to the end of April, there is dusting of early-flowering trees – alder, hazel, hornbeam, maple, ash, willow, willow. From mid-April to the end of May – dusting of late-flowering trees – birch, oak, elm, pine, spruce, poplar. From mid-May to the end of June, some herbs bloom, the pollen of which also causes allergy symptoms – coltsfoot, dandelion.

In the summer, the most common cause of allergies is the pollen of cereals and weeds. In June-July, there is a reaction to the flowering of cereals – timothy, rye, corn, wheat, couch grass, foxtail, fescue, hedgehog, bluegrass. From July to autumn, weeds bloom – wormwood, quinoa, nettle, plantain.

What are the symptoms of an allergy?

All the types of allergens listed above belong to the group of aeroallergens and cause a reaction in the respiratory tract. The most common symptoms of rhinitis are: itchy nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose. Often associated with redness of the eyes, lacrimation, photophobia. If you do not take any medications for allergies, the symptoms may become more severe: sore throat, cough, hoarseness, manifestations of bronchial obstruction (asthma).

Less commonly, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, or Quincke’s edema is observed upon contact with aeroallergens.

Cross allergy – what is it?

There are foods whose allergens are similar in origin and composition to tree, grass, and fungal allergens. When using these products, a reaction similar to an allergy to plant pollen is often observed – conjunctivitis, sore throat and cough, sneezing, nasal congestion. Allergies can be observed both during the flowering season and all year round. It happens that the reaction to cross products is even stronger than to the causative plant. Therefore, during flowering, it is recommended to follow a diet with the exclusion of cross-products so as not to aggravate pollen allergy. However, some people need such a diet outside of the flowering season.

If you are allergic to birch and related plants (aspen, alder, oak, beech, hornbeam, maple, ash, hazel), apples, pears, nuts, kiwi, carrots, celery, parsley, honey and stone fruits and vegetables (cherry, plum, prunes, peach, apricot, cherry, avocado, etc.).

Allergy sufferers who react to cereal pollen should exclude bakery products and all flour products, kvass, beer, soy products, meat products with fillers.

If you are allergic to weed plants, seeds, halva, sunflower and corn oils, melon, watermelon, celery, herbal preparations are excluded from the diet.

With a fungal allergy, sour-milk products, moldy cheeses, kvass, sourdough are excluded.

How to diagnose allergies?

If you suspect an allergy, you should definitely visit an allergist. He will conduct a conversation, ask the necessary questions to understand which group of allergens causes a reaction. Then the doctor conducts an allergy diagnosis. It is a skin test with microdoses of allergens. In this case, the result is visible immediately after the examination. An allergist may also prescribe a blood test for allergens. Sometimes allergy diagnostics includes both methods.

What to do with the development of spring-summer allergies?

The best way to treat allergies is to avoid contact with the allergen. Therefore, one of the options for dealing with a spring illness is to leave for another lane, somewhere there are no such plants, or the causative plant has already faded.

However, often there is simply no way to leave. What to do then? Firstly, a visit to an allergist is necessary to conduct an allergic diagnosis and establish the causative allergen. In addition, the allergist will prescribe the necessary treatment to relieve symptoms, as well as give recommendations on diet, hygiene and walking during the flowering period.

To reduce contact with allergens, it is recommended to use barrier products: masks, nasal filters, barrier sprays. Windows and vents in the house should be closed to avoid allergens. Active walks are best done in calm weather after rain. When you come home from the street, you must definitely take off your outer clothing, wash your hands and face, rinse your mouth, rinse your nose with boiled water.

The most effective method of dealing with pollen allergy is Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT). The method is the introduction of low doses of a causative allergen into the body of an allergic person. The immune system “gets used” to it and the reaction to the flowering plant decreases or disappears altogether. The allergen can be injected into the body subcutaneously or sublingually (under the tongue). Such treatment begins 3-4 months before the start of dusting of the causative plant. ASIT is carried out for children from the age of 5. Before prescribing such treatment, an allergist must conduct an allergodiagnosis to identify the leading allergen.

Self-diagnosis and self-treatment of allergic manifestations are in no case unacceptable.