For some people, the end of summer means the return of seasonal allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n
With mid- to late August marking a peak period for some late-summer allergens, Dr. Ashok Chhetri, a medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, says people who are sensitive to pollen may be noticing their symptoms more often.<\/p>\n
Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to airborne allergens, primarily pollen. While it can feel similar to a cold, Chhetri says there are some important differences between the two.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the symptoms<\/p>\n
Hay fever primarily affects the eyes and nose, with common symptoms including sneezing, itching and a runny nose.<\/p>\n
Unlike many viral illnesses, hay fever typically does not cause a fever or generalized body aches.<\/p>\n
Another difference is how long symptoms can stick around.<\/p>\n
“A typical viral cold usually improves within a week,” Chhetri said.<\/p>\n
Allergy symptoms, on the other hand, can continue for weeks or return throughout the pollen season as people are repeatedly exposed to the allergen triggering their symptoms.<\/p>\n
Chhetri also notes that nasal discharge associated with allergies is typically clear and watery, which can help distinguish it from some respiratory infections.<\/p>\n
However, respiratory viruses continue to circulate during the summer, meaning not every case of sneezing or a runny nose is necessarily caused by allergies.<\/p>\n
Common cold viruses can circulate during the late summer, while illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19 and RSV become more prominent as the fall and winter seasons approach.<\/p>\n
Related Stories:<\/p>\n
Late summer brings different allergens<\/p>\n
According to Chhetri, mid- to late August is when ragweed and other late-summer pollens typically become more prominent triggers.<\/p>\n
People who are sensitive to ragweed may therefore notice their symptoms becoming more noticeable around this time of year.<\/p>\n
He also says there is evidence that pollen seasons have been becoming longer and more intense in recent years.<\/p>\n
As a result, some people may find their symptoms begin earlier or last later than they remember from previous years.<\/p>\n
The intensity of symptoms can also depend on where someone is spending time.<\/p>\n
Chhetri says environmental factors and a person’s history of exposure can play a role in the development of allergies, and sensitivities can change throughout a person’s life.<\/p>\n
Limiting exposure to pollen<\/p>\n
One of the first steps people can take is keeping an eye on the local pollen forecast.<\/p>\n
Chhetri recommends that people who know they are sensitive to pollen use the forecast to plan their outdoor activities, particularly when pollen levels are high.<\/p>\n
Limiting time outdoors during high-pollen periods can help reduce exposure, especially on dry and windy days when pollen can be more easily dispersed.<\/p>\n
There are also simple steps people can take once they come back inside.<\/p>\n
Showering and changing clothes after spending time outdoors can help remove pollen that may have collected on the body or clothing.<\/p>\n
Keeping windows closed can also reduce the amount of pollen entering the home.<\/p>\n
For people spending time in their vehicles, Chhetri recommends using the recirculation setting rather than continuously drawing outdoor air into the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Managing allergy symptoms<\/p>\n
For people who are already experiencing symptoms, over-the-counter medications can provide relief.<\/p>\n
Chhetri says non-drowsy antihistamines, including cetirizine and fexofenadine, can help manage symptoms such as sneezing, itching and a runny nose.<\/p>\n
Nasal sprays and antihistamine eye drops can also be used to target specific symptoms.<\/p>\n
Because everyone’s situation is different, Chhetri says pharmacists can be a useful resource for people looking for advice about managing seasonal allergies.<\/p>\n
People can also speak with their family doctor if symptoms are persistent or more difficult to manage.<\/p>\n
When allergies become more disruptive<\/p>\n
While seasonal allergies can often be managed with avoidance measures and over-the-counter treatments, Chhetri says there are situations where people should seek additional medical advice.<\/p>\n
If allergy symptoms are interfering with sleep or daily activities, it may be time to speak with a health-care professional.<\/p>\n
He also highlights the connection between allergies and asthma.<\/p>\n
Allergic rhinitis and asthma can occur together, and poorly controlled allergy symptoms can be associated with poorer asthma control.<\/p>\n
For people experiencing both allergy symptoms and difficulty controlling their asthma, Chhetri recommends speaking with a doctor about whether allergy testing or a referral to an allergist may be appropriate.<\/p>\n
Testing can help identify specific triggers, which may include pollen or other allergens.<\/p>\n
Allergies can change over time<\/p>\n
Having the same reaction to the same allergens throughout life is not necessarily guaranteed.<\/p>\n
Chhetri says allergies can become better or worse over time, with environmental factors and a person’s exposure history playing a role.<\/p>\n
That can also mean someone may experience symptoms when visiting a different region where they encounter allergens that are not as common where they normally live.<\/p>\n
For those dealing with hay fever this time of year, Chhetri’s advice is simple: keep an eye on the pollen forecast and use that information to help limit exposure when levels are high.<\/p>\n
With late-summer pollen now becoming a more prominent trigger, taking a few preventative steps can help people manage their symptoms while still enjoying the final weeks of summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For some people, the end of summer means the return of seasonal allergy symptoms. With mid- to late…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":865410,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":["post-866629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/865410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=866629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=866629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}