Fall allergies usually start right in the cusp before flu and cold season. Find out how you can detect and treat fall allergies naturally.
Am I sick or is it Fall Allergies?
How to tell if you have fall allergies and not a flu or cold.
Symptoms of fall allergies usually start in the cusp of the season right before temperatures begin to drop. This isn’t very long before cold and flu season strikes.
Which is often why fall headaches, fatigue, nausea, and runny noses leave us feeling down and perplexed. Seasonal allergies can impact you at any time in life. So when it’s hard to tell what is ailing you, it’s important to pay attention to your symptoms.
The biggest allergy trigger of the fall comes from the blooming of ragweed in August. which produces one billion grains of pollen per plant and has lasting impacts throughout the season. Additional fall allergies can be caused by mold and mildew (indoors and on leaves), dust mites, pet allergies and due to school allergens (such as chalk dust) for those going back into the classroom.
To determine whether or not you are suffering from a cold or fall allergies consider the following:
- Does your throat itch? If your throat is sore and not itchy, you may have a cold.
- Have your symptoms been progressive or all at once? Colds are usually progressive, whereas allergy symptoms hit at once.
- Has there been any let up or relief of your symptoms? Colds will have an end but allergies won’t let up without treatment or until there is a seasonal hard frost.
- Does itch accompany cough? Both colds and allergies can produce cough. Allergies may include an itch around the mouth or eyes as the body is trying to shed allergens.
- Do you have a fever? Allergies won’t run hot.
- Have any foods caused allergic symptoms such as itching around the mouth? In the fall, raw and unpeeled apples can have this impact for those suffering from seasonal allergies.
- Don’t be fooled by your mucus. The color of mucus with both colds and allergies can be the same. When treating allergies, it’s important to beware of whether or not you also need to treat cold symptoms to avoid long term sinus issues.
What’s the difference between Fall and Spring Allergies?
While symptoms for fall and spring allergies are similar, airborne allergens can actually worsen in the fall. There are simply more triggers that are complicated by fall’s warm, wet weather which is conducive to molds.
How can I treat Fall Allergies?
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, ragweed season may be lengthening due to a rise in temperatures and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This may leave sufferers longing for the cold weather that stops outdoor triggers. In the meantime, you can get through the season with minimal discomfort and begin to enjoy fall by making sure your allergy treatment plan includes the following:
1. Limit exposure. When you’re outdoors doing yard work, wear a mask. Avoid windy days and when inside, keep your windows shut.
2. Change your clothes and shower at night.
3. Get moisture out of your house to prevent mold and mildew.
4. Fight allergies with Mother Nature herself. All-natural treatments can provide relief and help avoid troubling side effects on the nervous system.
Acupuncture can replace or accompany the use of antihistamines while also strengthening the body to prevent reactions to allergens in the first place. With acupuncture, patients can see results without side effects known to antihistamines and decongestants, such as drowsiness, immune system suppression or over-reliance on medications.
Once aware of sensitivities to ragweed, it may be helpful to start a proactive plan of treatment about 4 -6 weeks in advance with your acupuncturists to boost your immunity before the fall allegory season arrives. To learn more about our top-rated acupuncture program in Chicago, please visit us or click here to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consolation.
