Get ahead of fall allergy symptoms by starting your medication in mid-August
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 8, 2024) – It’s too early to think about fall allergies – isn’t it?
“If you suffer from fall allergies, you should be thinking now, in mid-August, about starting the medications you normally take to treat symptoms,” says allergist Gailen Marshall, MD, PhD, president of the American College of AllergyAsthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “And although spring, summer and fall have distinct sets of allergens that crop up, the symptoms are often the same. People who have multiple triggers may not be able to distinguish between what’s causing their symptoms. They just know they’re congested, with red eyes and an itchy nose.”
If you have fall allergies, you’ve no doubt heard of ragweed, the biggest allergy trigger in the fall. Ragweed usually starts releasing pollen with cool nights and warm days in August and can last into September and October. And the bad news is that most people who are allergic to spring plants are also allergic to ragweed.
What should you do to manage allergy and asthma symptoms in the fall? Many of the same things you do in spring, according to ACAAI. Below are five tips to help you manage fall allergy symptoms.
Start your medications now – In addition to starting fall allergy medication two weeks or so before symptoms usually begin, you should also continue your medication for two weeks after the first frost. Both nasal and eye symptoms associated with ragweed allergies can linger after pollen is no longer in the air.
Visit your allergist – Make an appointment to see your board-certified allergist. They can offer you options for treatment you may not have considered. If your symptoms are worse or better or if you have new symptoms since your last visit, your allergist can create a plan unique to you. Did you know that allergists specialize in asthma treatment? If you are coughing or wheezing more than previously, ask your allergist about getting tested for asthma.
Avoid triggers – With ragweed ever-present in the fall, do everything possible to ensure you're not tracking it into your home. Shed clothes, shoes and hats at the door and throw them in the washer. Make sure to shower and wash your hair before bed so you're not sleeping in pollen. If you're working or playing outdoors, a NIOSH N95-rated mask can help keep pollen at bay. Wear a hat and sunglasses to prevent pollen from getting into your eyes and keep car and home windows closed. Use air conditioning whenever possible.
Get rid of mold – Anywhere there is water; mold may appear often during the fall season. Mold appears in basements, bathrooms, leaky cabinets under sinks or piles of dead leaves in backyards. The key to reducing mold is moisture control: use bathroom fans and clean standing water immediately; scrub any visible mold from surfaces with detergent and water; dry completely; keep home humidity below 60%; clean gutters regularly.
Consider allergy immunotherapy – Immunotherapy is a long-term approach for treating severe or chronic allergies available as shots or tablets. Unlike medications that treat symptoms only temporarily immunotherapy works similarly like vaccines — desensitizing immune systems over time improving asthma conditions as well if necessary consult an allergist whether this option suits best needs
If suffering seasonal allergies see board-certified specialists trained diagnosing treating creating individual action plans accordingly
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About ACAAI
ACAAI professional medical organization comprises more than 6k members including allied health professionals headquartered Arlington Heights fostering collaborative culture focusing patient care education advocacy research Board-certified physicians diagnose administer immunotherapy ensuring optimal outcomes For additional information relief visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org Join social media platforms Facebook Pinterest Instagram Twitter/X
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