Allergist: Sleep with your windows closed to help relieve symptoms
Fall is fast approaching, but people with allergies don’t need a calendar to remind them.
Beginning in mid-august, the advent of itchy, watery eyes and sneezing reveals that a multitude of ragweed pollen — the most common fall allergen — has been released into the air.
To find out more about fall allergies, what causes them and how to help alleviate the suffering, we spoke with Dr. Donald Mcneil, an Ohiohealth allergist.
Here is a lightly edited version of the conversation:
Q: Am I correct that there are two main allergy seasons, spring and fall?
A: For the most part, that’s correct for the Midwest. The main allergens for the majority of people are trees and grass in spring and early summer, and then the grass stops pollinating about mid-july, and there are a couple of weeks of respite until mid-august, when the ragweed hits full blast.
Q: Is climate change shortening the gap between the spring and fall allergy seasons?
A: I haven’t really looked into it, but it does seem like the seasons blend together a lot more now. Mold allergies come up whenever it’s humid and warm, and mold season can be throughout most of the growing season. So yes, the margins have blurred quite a bit.
Q: Are there any differences in symptoms between spring and fall?
A: Not really. It’s an individual experience. No matter what you are allergic to, they all cause itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose, and some people get asthma symptoms.