Seasonal allergies are categorized by certain airborne substances, which only appear during certain times of year, most often during the spring and fall months, though summer allergies are common as well.

More commonly known as hay fever, these allergies do not always coincide with summer when hay is normally harvested and rarely includes fever, so the term “hay fever” can be a little misleading.

Hay fever normally causes itchiness of the top of the mouth, the nose, back of the throat, or the eyes. This itchiness can come about very quickly. Symptoms also include a runny nose, as well as a stuffed up nose and sneezing. It often causes watery eyes, at times quite heavily watery as well as possible redness of the eyes and eyelids. The nasal lining in the nose can become inflamed and swollen. It can also cause headaches, irritability, as well as wheeziness. Many who experience these types of allergies also suffer from asthma..

Treatment normally depends on the type of allergy and the severity, but normally these type of allergies can be controlled through use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants. Cromolyn, a non-prescription nasal spray may also be recommended. Cromolyn has to be used regularly to be effective and may only be effective in those areas to which it is applied. Bathing of the eyes with a regular eye wash may also help to alleviate any irritation of the eyes.

There are many known seasonal allergy triggers based on which region of the United States you may reside in. Those in other countries may use the following as a guideline, though allergy triggers may vary from country to country.

In the spring, hay fever is known to be triggered in the southern, eastern and mid-eastern US by trees like juniper, birch, oak, alder, maple, elm and olive. In summer, grasses, such as, redtop, timothy, bluegrasses and orchard grass, are major culprits and in late summer, ragweed usually becomes a prevalent allergy trigger.

In the fall, Russian thistle and sagebrush are known to cause big problems for hay fever sufferers in the western US. Between December and March, cedar (also known as juniper) is a major producer of pollen. Grass in the South-western US has a longer pollination period, which makes for a longer allergy season for those in the southwest region.

If you believe you may be suffering from any form of hay fever, you can try any of the countless over the counter allergy medications on the market. For most cases, these medications will do the trick. If not, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment. Doing so could make the difference between a happy season and a miserable one.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Allergies

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Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Then, the thoughts of spring are more about just being able to breath and the misery of constant allergy symptoms. While there are many people allergic to a lot of things, even people who usually do not suffer from allergies can be affected in the springtime. This is no doubt due to the explosive growth of various pollens and natural substances that make for those spring flowers and growth.
Well, we can’t do much about the various pollens in the air, it is possible to get some relief from constant sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes. One such way to help limit the symptoms is to better control your indoor environment. Allergies can actually become worse indoors due to the potential of increased concentrations of these natural allergy triggers.

A good way to help limit the amount of allergens in your home is to keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible. If not practical, you may want to consider shade screens. Shade screens have fewer and smaller holes than regular screens. This in turn may keep some of the dirt and pollen out of your home. At the very least, you should consider washing your window screens to remove the buildup of allergens on the screen material itself.

You may also be interested in a free report on how to eliminate asthma triggers in your home that is available at the link below. Asthma and allergy sufferers have many of the same triggers in common.

Though many people suggest the use of air conditioning during high allergy season. This really doesn’t work if you don’t change or clean the filters regularly. If you or a loved one has been having an especially difficult time during allergy season, you may want to consider using high efficiency particulate air or HEPA type filters in your equipment.

While air conditioning cools and dries the air, many of us simply cannot afford this luxury. An alternative is to get a high quality dehumidifier for use indoors. An air purifier can even be used to help limit the allergy triggers inside your home.

The key to living with allergies in the springtime is to limit your exposure to the allergens that bring on the symptoms. To that end, when possible don’t venture outdoors during windy periods. Doing your own lawn work is also not a great idea. Consider hiring a landscaping company to handle the plant and landscape chores such as cutting the lawn, pulling weeds, etc.

If you find that your allergy problems are out of control, you should seek help from your doctor. While many of the over-the-counter nasal sprays etc. do work many are habit-forming and create more problems than they solve.

By: Abigail Franks

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Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma,Allergies, and their triggers. Visit the Asthma site for more information on Asthma Triggers and info on Allergies and Asthma

A recent research shows that more than 50 million Americans have allergies, or one in every five, according to the National Institutes of Health. Allergic rhinitis (inflammation in the nasal area) is the most common allergic disease, affecting at least 20% to 25% of the population. Allergy ranks as the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S, costing almost $6 billion in workplace productivity, annually. Direct health care costs of allergic rhinitis are increasing each year.

Allergy is an adverse immune reaction of your body to a foreign substance; a protein or allergen such as pollen or pet dander; that enters or comes in contact with the body through the environment, normally harmless to the non-allergic individual, otherwise.

The two main types of allergies are seasonal and perennial.

1. Seasonal allergies like hay fever are more common in the spring and fall when plant pollination begins. Trees and grass cause most symptoms in the spring, while ragweed is responsible for the majority of autumn symptoms.
2. Perennial allergies are usually year-round problems. Common triggers for perennial allergies include mould spores, pet dander and dust mites.

When foreign substances such as pollen cause allergic reactions, they are called allergens. Almost anything can be an allergen for someone. Allergens contain protein, which is often regarded as a constituent of the food we eat. In fact it is an organic compound, containing hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, which form an important part of living organisms.

Allergens cause cells in your body to release chemicals known as mediators, which trigger allergy symptoms. These mediators include Histamine; it is the mediator that stimulates mucus production and causes redness, swelling and inflammation; and Prostaglandins which constricts airways and enlarges blood vessels.

An allergic person’s Immune System believes allergens to be damaging and so produces a special type of antibody (IgE) to attack the invading material. This leads other blood cells (i.e. mast cells) to release further chemicals (including histamine) which together cause the symptoms of an allergic response.

House dust Mites, Grass and Tree Pollens, Pet skin flakes or Dander (Cat, Dog, Horse, and Hamster), Fungal or Mould spores, Food (Milk, Egg, Wheat, Soya, Seafood, Fruit and Nuts), Wasp and Bee Stings, Medication and Latex, Nickel, Rubber, Preservatives and Chemical Resins are the most common allergens.

Less common allergens include nuts, fruits and latex. There are some non-protein allergens which include drugs such as penicillin. For these to cause an allergic response they need to be bound to a protein once they are in the body.

The most common symptoms of allergy are sneezing , runny nose; itchy eyes, lips, throat and ears; severe wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, sinus problems, a sore palate and nettle-like rash, swelling, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, an increase in secretions and hives or rashes.

Minimizing or preventing the allergy symptoms so as to help the allergy sufferers maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle and routine is the main goal for treating allergic rhinitis. And what better way than to avoid what causes the symptoms? If you can’t, then medicines are the only way to treat the allergy. But it is necessary that allergies should be treated keeping in mind distinctive symptoms.

Natural remedies are the safest way to prevent and treat with allergies and sinus conditions. Following are the selected products for allergy relief.

Dr. Krishna Urval, an allergist at Ohio Valley Medical Center, said a mild winter is the cause for sniffling troubles.

Urval said trees are pollinating early due to a milder season. Allergens start with trees in March and April, then grass, and then mold if there is much rain and weeds by summer’s end.

He said there are many things allergy sufferers can do to deal with their symptoms. First, he said to watch the allergy report. Next, he said to minimize outdoor activity, especially between 5 and 10 a.m.

Urval also said to close windows, use the air conditioner, don’t hang clothes outside to dry, wear a mask to do things like cut grass, and pretreat allergies with medication.

“If you know a bad March or April is coming, take medications before (symptoms) get worse,” he said.

-Renee Cardelli & Shelby Zarotney, NEWS9

The allergy seasons are a real challenge, especially if you
wear contact lenses. A chronic allergy to mold, pet dander
or other environmental allergens can create a year-round
dilemma. No matter what the cause, seasonal allergies make
your eyes hypersensitive and irritated. Ordinary soft
contact lenses often make them feel even worse.

There’s a lot you can do to reduce the misery of allergy
season. Keep your contacts as clean as you can whether you
have to use lubricating drops to rinse your eyes out
regularly. Remove your contacts and clean them in a
solution throughout the day, if they are not ‘one-per-day’
type lenses.

Allergy induced conjunctivitis, a condition that causes
painful swelling and redness of the eyes, can make wearing
your contacts a real pain. If this becomes a real issue,
it’s best to consult your optometrist. Disposable lenses
allow you a more comfortable lens that you can trash at the
end of the day. You’ll have no more worries about making
sure all the dust and pollen has been removed or cleansed.

Other ways to get relief are simple. During allergy season,
contact lens wearers should close the windows in their cars
and houses and use the air conditioner. Air conditioner
filters often remove most of the annoying pollens and dust
from the air. Avoid doing a lot of lawn work or outdoor
activities in the mornings and early afternoon, because
pollens are usually at their highest levels at that time.

Don’t mow or rake the lawn without protective eyewear and a
dust mask when your allergies are at their worst. If
you’ve been outside or doing similar work, wash your hands
frequently to avoid transferring pollens, dusts or molds
close to your eyes.

Washing your hair everyday and your face two or three times
a day also helps reduce the amount of transferable pollen
and dust.

Allergies are an unfortunate condition for some people and
there are a number of allergy medicines that can help
reduce and in some cases even eliminate the symptoms. When
contact lenses are involved, a little prevention can help
reduce the amount of irritation or discomfort you might be
feeling. If it doesn’t, remember to always speak to your
doctor for a diagnosis or prescription that could help.
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About the Author

Peter has worn contact lenses all his life. He’s tested
different types, and explored all alternatives. In this
series of articles he shares his advice and experiences.