Spring Allergies vs Fall Allergies: Which is Worse

For those who suffer from seasonal symptoms of hay fever, there always seems to be that time of the year that is absolutely dreaded. For some it includes the spring, and for others it’s the fall. Seasonal allergy sufferers may also suffer from both or even more seasons, but one will usually dominate. So which is worse? Well, it depends on the specific allergen and when it is most abundant in the regional area at a specific time of the year.

Spring Allergies- Spring appears to be the time of the year when trees release the most pollen. Some of the top trees responsible for this abundant pollen release are Oak, Sycamore, Maple, Elm, Birch, Walnut, Hickory, and Cypress. The warming of the weather still accompanied by heavy winds also aggravates these allergens. Mold is still a prime allergy source in the spring, however it will worsen in the fall.

Oak Tree

Fall Allergies- The biggest culprit during the fall season is ragweed. Ragweed begins to pollinate in August normally, which makes it stay in the air and “attack” those for the following months. It’s also a very light particle that travels well in the wind. This allows it to act as an allergen to many nationwide, even if you don’t live near growing ragweed. Also in the fall, mold proliferates the most. Although mold is stated to be a major contributor to spring allergies, fall has higher levels because of the increase in spore release. The release of these mold spores also wreaks havoc to those susceptible to mold allergies. Another additional burden that fall allergies do play is with children. Because it is the start of the school year children will begin to have more exposure to certain school time activities, which may aggravate their allergies even further. This appears to be correlated with children asthma attack spikes in the fall as well.

Ragweed

So which one is worse? Well, of course, it changes for each individual because allergies are triggered by different allergens. For both spring and fall allergies, the best defense is avoiding the triggers in combination with medication in order to manage symptoms. These options were discussed in previous blogs.

When to see a doctor

When to see a doctor

When starting to experience symptoms, questions generally arise about what’s causing this and what can be done to help. Or it could just be that you have had these symptoms for a while now and you just are tired of it. It seems that with a condition like hay fever you don’t necessarily need to see the doctor until you choose to. What may be some things to prompt you though?

One reason to see a doctor is if your hay fever is disrupting your quality of life. This can include a variety of things such as missing work or school, not getting enough sleep, or even just getting in the way of your favorite activities.

Another reason that you should see a doctor is for possible complications or exacerbations of other conditions commonly associated with hay fever. The most common are sinusitis, nasal polyps, asthma, and eczema.

       

     Sinusitis- an inflammation of the sinuses that is associated with infections that can either be bacterial, fungal, or viral. Symptoms are similar to that of the common cold that don’t reside or even worsen after 5-7 days. This can include loss of smell or taste, nasal congestion, headache, sore throat, nasal discharge, fever and fatigue

Sinusitis X Ray

     

    Nasal Polyps- inflammation of tissue lining the nasal passageway causing sac-like growths. Symptoms include similar feelings of a having a persistent cold (up to months or years), mouth breathing, nasal obstruction, loss of smell, runny nose.

Nasal Polyps

    Asthma- a condition where the airways of the lungs can become swollen and narrow, or bronchoconstriction. The most common symptoms are chest tightness, wheezing,  shortness of breath, and coughing. Depending on severity of symptoms, asthma can lead to an emergency situation and you must seek help immediately. 

Bronchiole- Normal vs Asthmatic

    

   Eczema- a hypersensitivity reaction on the skin resulting in itchy and/or scaly rashes.  Symptoms include skin changes resulting in blisters with oozing and crusting, ear discharge/bleeding, itchiness, skin color changes, skin redness/inflammation around blisters, and thickened or leather-like areas on the skin.

Eczema lesion on hand

On your visit…

Make sure you list your symptoms which includes ones that are old and new. Tell your doctor about lifestyle changes you had to make in order to accommodate these symptoms and what you have done to help alleviate. Make sure to include all medications (OTC, prescription, and even herbal remedies). Depending on severity and types of symptoms you may have allergy skin testing or even see a ENT (ear nose and throat) specialists. Also, make sure to write down questions you might have prior to your visit and don’t be afraid to ask. 

Using a Neti Pot for Hay Fever

Neti Pots

What are they?

Neti pots, or nasal saline irrigation is a system of cleansing out the sinus and nasal cavities. in order to help a range of nasal symptoms from colds, allergies, sinusitis or just for hygiene.  Although the idea of the Neti pot has been around for centuries but has recently been increasing in popularity.  This is especially true for those with hay fever because of it acts as effective maintenance of clearing out the allergens with minimal side effects. This especially applies for those year round hay fever sufferers.

How do they even work?

To understand how the Neti pot works, the anatomy and physiology of the sinuses needs to be stated.  Sinuses are air cavities in the cranial bones which help reducing weight of the skull, create resonance in the voice, and most relatable for this, for humidifying the air in the nasal passageway. The paranasal sinuses include the maxillary, frontal, sphenoid, and ethmoid. The body is constantly producing mucus in these cavities which normal works as a protective and lubricating barrier and should just go down the throat as a post nasal drip and be swallowed.  However if  infectious agents, allergens, dirt, dust or other particles are present this mucus can thicken up and have a harder time being removed. This build up causes pressure in the sinuses, worsening symptoms of nasal congestion and rhinitis, and even can lead to cough, sore throat, and hoarseness. With the Neti pot, the solution is designed to thin out the mucus and irrigate it through the sinuses and out the nostrils. Attached is a youtube video of a more in depth explanation.

So do they work?

Studies show that they do help in relieving symptoms. Ear nose and throat  [ENT] surgeons often recommend them to their patients after having nasal surgery because how effective their irrigation works. Research has backed up the claims of both companies and users of the Neti pot. However this may vary from person to person. Don’t start a new regime without constulting your primary care physician. 

My Personal Results

As a fellow hay allergy sufferer I decided to give this device a whirl. I bought the  Neil Med Nasal Flow one at Target for 17.99. When I first started it made my head feel full and I had to make sure my head was tilted just right over the sink otherwise I would taste the salty solution in the back of my throat. However, it didn’t take long and was painless- the best news is I saw results almost instantly. I physically saw mucus in the sink (gross I know, but better out of my sinuses than in!), also I felt better. I was able to breathe better almost instantly. There was the occasional trickle of solution for then next fifteen minutes but nothing bad. I did however feel a little lightheaded for about an hour. I have now tried this regime three nights in a row- deciding I would slow down as soon as I had a successful (little or no mucus left) go around. I have noticed have had little or no congestion in the morning and throughout the day and barely even sneezed. Personally I am loving the Netipot.

Attached are some links you may be interested in about the products.

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Himalayan-Institute-Ceramic-Neti-Pot/dp/B000WJIC3G

http://www.sinucleanse.com/netipotlanding.htm

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/adword_np.php

Prevention

Are taking medications not working or just not your thing? What else can you do if the symptoms of hay fever still haunt you? 

For those who are the seasonal allergy sufferers have it easier in the sense that symptoms only last a couple weeks or months. However, prevention of these seasonal sniffles is much harder to avoid, or fix. 

Because seasonal allergies primary cause is pollens the key concept is to stay indoors. It is advised to keep all windows and doors closed and use the air conditioner to stay cool. This also applies for while driving as well; but make sure that the car is in the “recirculation” mode. It’s also important that the air conditioner has a good air filter, which is to be washed weekly during high pollen season. Another thing to keep in mind is to keep in mind is to not have plants indoors.

As for the year round hay fever sufferers, prevention gets a little more difficult. Also, there are a lot more possible sources/causes of the allergens. The most common, which I will focus on are dust, dust mites, pet dander, and mold. For household dust, it’s beneficial to not have carpet and instead have a smooth surface, such as hardwood flooring. This allows dust to settle on top and be cleaned much more effectively and easily. If you are unable to get rid of carpet use a mask while vacuuming. Also limit surfaces, and furniture, for dust to settle on. Clothing could be a big issue when it comes to dust because it’s fabric, has a lot of surface area, and is normally stored in the bedroom. It is advised that clothing be kept out of the bedroom and/or in airtight vinyl clothing bags. Some other small changes that could be made are to use blinds instead of drapes, to keep the air conditioning vent closed in the bedroom, and to make sure there is a clean filter on the air conditioning unit. As for dust mites, these changes also apply in addition with some new ones. It’s key to wash bedding weekly in hot water (at least 130 F). It’s also important to not sleep/lie down on upholstered furniture and to keep the home cool and dry. As for pet dander, the most effective solution would be to remove the pets from the home. This could be keeping them outside or the better solution (in the mindset of relieving hay fever symptoms) is to get rid of the pets altogether. However this is easier said then done, so the next best thing is to make sure to get the home cleaned thoroughly and often, keep the pet out of the bedroom, and make sure that it gets groomed elsewhere regularly.

Mold is perhaps the most potentially dangerous out of the year round hay fever causes.  The three D’s: dampness, darkness and drafts are key to the growth of mold. Therefore the best way to avoid mold is to avoid those three things; however it may be too late and the growth as already begun. Make sure rooms have good ventilation by opening doors and windows. Put lights in dark places, like small closets and the basement. Also avoid places of high humidity. This can include green houses, barns, laundry rooms etc. Because mold can be potentially dangerous to ones healthy it is very important to get the mold checked out by a professional. They may be able to help remove the mold (or at least part of it) regardless of the danger as well.

So overall, what’s the best way to prevent the symptoms of hay fever without medications (or in addition to)? AVOIDANCE. Avoid as much as you can and you will start to feel better.