SPRING ALLERGIES 101: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENTS
ABOUT SPRING ALLERGIES
While the start of spring is pretty much the same every year (March 19th, 20th, or 21st), the start of spring allergy season is something else entirely. In some parts of the country, spring allergy season can start as early as February, and last well into summer!1
So even though it may not technically be "spring," your nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and a runny nose could very well show up earlier and stick around long past their welcome.
But that doesn't mean you have to let spring allergy season catch you off guard. In just a few minutes (or less, if you're a speedy reader), you'll get the inside track on spring allergies—what causes them, what they do, and more importantly, what you can do about them. Now, let's get to it.
CAUSES OF SPRING ALLERGIES
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Tree Pollen
![Pollen can trigger allergy symptoms during the spring season]( "Pollen can trigger allergy symptoms during the spring season")
During late winter and early spring, dormant trees bounce back to life and start releasing pollen into the air, making tree pollen a trigger for allergy symptoms. Some common culprits include birch, cedar, hickory, and walnut.2
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Grass Pollen
![Mold can trigger allergy symptoms during the fall season]( "Mold can trigger allergy symptoms during the fall season")
Of all the various kinds of grasses blanketing lawns, fields, and gardens, only a small number can be blamed for causing allergy symptoms.3
Want to get in the weeds? Get the full story on grass pollen and how to beat it.
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Mold
![Bathroom tiles with obvious brown mold stains]( "Bathroom tiles with obvious brown mold stains")
Mold thrives in damp indoor and outdoor environments (leaf piles, rotten logs, basements, and bathrooms). Unlike pollen, mold doesn't die with the first frost; instead, it stops growing and lays dormant until the weather warms. Just in time for spring.4
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Dust Mites
![Dust mite allergies can trigger during the fall season]( "Dust mite allergies can trigger during the fall season")
Dust mites, or more specifically, dust mite waste, is a common indoor allergen that can be found in many places around the house—furniture, carpets, bedding, and stuffed toys.5
SYMPTOMS
One of the most common and most bothersome symptom reported for
allergies is nasal congestion.6
Also on the list, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, itchy nose, and runny nose. include:
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- itchy, watery eyes†
- itchy nose
- runny nose
SPRING ALLERGY TIPS AND TREATMENTS
*vs single-ingredient antihistamines that do not treat nasal congestion.
†FLONASE SENSIMIST is indicated for itchy, watery eyes in adults and children 12 years of age and older. See product pages for full information.
Sources:
- ACAAI. Seasonal Allergies. https://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies. Accessed November 29, 2018.
- Healthline. Pollen Library: Plants That Cause Allergies. https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/pollen-library#1. Accessed November 29, 2018.
- AAFA. What If You’re Allergic to Grass? 10 Steps to Managing Grass Pollen Allergy.https://community.aafa.org/blog/what-if-you-re-allergic-to-grass-10-steps-to-managing-grass-pollen-allergy. Accessed November 29, 2018.
- AAFA. Mold Allergy.https://asthmaandallergies.org/asthma-allergies/mold-allergy. Accessed November 29, 2018.
- AAFA. Dust Mite Allergy.http://asthmaandallergies.org/asthma-allergies/dust-mite-allergy/. Accessed November 29, 2018.
- Craig, TJ, et al. Congestion and Sleep Impairment in Allergic Rhinitis.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11882-010-0091-5. Accessed November 29, 2018.
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