My SamfordSeasonal allergies are common, affecting about 30% of people worldwide, both adults and children. These allergies occur when your immune system reacts strongly to something in your environment, like fall-burning bush or spring grass pollen. The duration of seasonal allergies depends on the specific type of allergy and how you manage the symptoms.
This article explains the most prevalent triggers for seasonal allergies, the duration of each allergy season, and practical ways to alleviate symptoms throughout the year.
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What are the Seasonal Allergies?
Each season has its own triggers based on factors like temperature and moisture. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is a common seasonal allergy associated with spring, but its symptoms can persist for several months. Other seasonal allergies can span multiple seasons, making it challenging to pinpoint a specific “seasonal allergy.”
Spring Allergies
Spring allergies typically start in March and end in May. Pollen, the fine yellow powder on plants, is a significant trigger. It spreads through the air via insects, birds, and the wind, and even pets can carry it indoors on their paws. During high pollen counts, parked vehicles can be covered in the yellow powder. Allergic reactions to pollen may include a stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, wheezing, and itching in the throat or eyes.
Mould and Dust Mites
Spring rain increases moisture, creating an ideal environment for mould growth. Mold species like Penicillium and Alternaria can trigger symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose, cough, and a stuffy nose. Dust mites also thrive in high humidity, causing allergies characterized by sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. Dust mites are known asthma triggers and can worsen allergy symptoms when their proteins are inhaled.
Other Spring Allergens
In spring, plants grow rapidly, with trees sprouting new leaves, weeds appearing in the yard, and grasses becoming taller and greener. This growth can intensify allergy symptoms. Plants like birch, juniper, maple, Bermuda grass, and fescue are examples that can trigger allergies during spring.
Summer Allergies
Summer allergies typically run from June to September, peaking in June and July. If your summer allergies feel particularly intense, it may be because you spend more time outdoors during this season, engaging in activities like swimming, hiking, and attending cookouts that expose you to more allergens. Common summer allergens include mould, tree pollen, nettle, mugwort, grass pollen, and ragweed.
Fall Allergies
After spring, fall allergies are widespread, starting in late summer and lasting through September or October. The duration of fall allergy symptoms depends on your location. In cooler areas, the season typically ends in September, but in milder climates, it may extend into October. Ragweed, a pollen that travels long distances, can cause allergies even if there’s not much of it in your neighbourhood. Mold and dust mites are also prevalent allergens during the fall.
Winter Allergies
In winter, the pollen levels drop, and you spend more time indoors. Surprisingly, allergy symptoms can persist from November to February, even though you’re not exposed to as much pollen. Instead, you encounter indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and mould. Turning on your furnace can stir up these allergens, making your symptoms worse, especially if you have central heating, which can spread allergens through your home’s vents.
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
While each season has different triggers, there’s a significant overlap in the symptoms they cause. Itchy eyes, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and dark circles under the eyes are common. During spring, pollen can settle on fruits and vegetables, leading to an itchy tongue or roof of the mouth. Some people with seasonal allergies experience postnasal drip, causing mucus to drip down the throat.
Why Seasonal Allergies Linger
If you react to multiple allergens, it may feel like your seasonal allergy symptoms never go away. Seasons also overlap, so even if you’re allergic to one or two things, you may be exposed for several months. Persistent allergy symptoms can be managed by reducing exposure to common allergens.
Tips for Severe Allergies
For severe allergies, regular handwashing, staying indoors during high pollen counts, and keeping windows closed can help prevent allergens from entering your home. Washing bedding frequently reduces dust mites. Those with severe symptoms may need to:
- Wear a mask outdoors.
- Avoid activities that increase exposure to allergens.
- Wash clothes immediately after outdoor activities.
- Use an air purifier with an efficient filter to remove allergens from the air.
What Could Be My Best Solution For Seasonal Allergies?
An effective way to alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms is by reducing allergens in your home through technology such as air purification. Air purifiers use filters to remove small particles from the air, decreasing your exposure to allergens and making it easier to breathe. Some filters capture pollen, dust mites, and other tiny particles, while others break them down into harmless substances.
For optimal results in managing allergies, place your air purifier in the bedroom to reduce exposure to pollen and allergens while sleeping. Enhance your symptom management with these additional steps:
- Keep pets out of the bedroom to prevent dander from getting trapped in bedding.
- Use high-efficiency filters in your HVAC system.
- Replace allergen-trapping carpet with hard surfaces like wood or laminate.
- Opt for window blinds or shades instead of curtains.
- Wash sheets and blankets frequently, preferably with hot water.
- Cover your mattress with a plastic cover.
PECO Filter Technology for Allergen Destruction
Photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) has transformed air purification by not only capturing but also destroying allergens and pollutants. Traditional purification collects particles on a filter, which can become a source of allergens. PECO filter technology addresses this issue.
PECO filters not only capture but also destroy organic particles like mould and pollen, reducing indoor allergens. Additionally, PECO destroys pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, lowering the risk of cold, flu, and other illnesses.
How PECO Filtration Works
PECO filtration generates free radicals inside the filter using water molecules in the air. These free radicals act as oxidisers, initiating chemical reactions that break down microorganisms and organic matter into carbon dioxide, water, and trace minerals. Allergen particles destroyed in this process cannot return to the air, making it easier to manage seasonal allergy symptoms.
In conclusion
Tackling seasonal allergies effectively involves a mix of smart choices, and using air purifiers plays a crucial role in creating a healthier indoor space. Air purifiers, especially those with advanced features like PECO filtration, not only capture but also destroy allergens, offering a more comprehensive solution to ease seasonal allergy symptoms.
Simple steps like keeping pet-free zones, using the right filters for HVAC systems, and opting for hard surfaces contribute to reducing allergen exposure. As we go through different seasons, being aware of triggers and making practical changes can significantly enhance our well-being.
The combination of these strategies with the groundbreaking benefits of PECO technology can help us take control of our surroundings and minimise the impact of seasonal allergies. Creating allergen-free zones within our homes allows us to breathe freely and enjoy a more comfortable, symptom-free living space throughout the year.
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