Seasonal allergies can cause discomfort and may be mistaken for a cold or flu. However, they are triggered by allergens specific to each season.
It is a common misconception that seasonal allergies only occur in the spring and summer when tree and flower pollen is abundant. In fact, they can appear in the fall as well.
Jonathan Chadwick, an otolaryngologist at Mercy Health in Paducah, said Kentucky has a high rate of allergy-related illnesses.
Dr. Jonathan Chadwick says allergies caused by ragweed and mold spores are the leading causes of fall sinus inflammation in Kentucky.
“Fall allergies in Kentucky are worse than I’ve ever seen,” Chadwick said. “I’ve lived all over the country and around the world, but I haven’t seen anywhere quite like they are here.”
Chadwick said flowering grasses like ragweed and mold spores are the main causes of seasonal allergies this time of year. “Ragweed is the biggest culprit,” Chadwick said. “But everything is in bloom more than in the summer and spring, so specific allergies are worse in the fall.”
Ragweed releases pollen from August through November, and Chadwick said the pollen can cross state lines.
“Ragweed can blow into the hundreds of thousands,” he explained. “So, it could be ragweed blowing onto us in Illinois and then it gets into your mucous membranes through your nose, mouth and eyes and causes symptoms. That’s something that most people are sensitive to.”
Ragweed and mold can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, leading to sinusitis, or sinusitis.
“It can cause nasal congestion, making it difficult to breathe,” Chadwick explains. “It can also cause sinus pressure because the sinuses drain fluid through very narrow holes in the nasal cavity, and when those holes swell, they don’t work as well. Ventilate.”
Seasonal allergy symptoms include a runny nose, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat, which are similar to those of many illnesses. Chadwick noted that no one is immune to seasonal allergies, but over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce inflammation.
“You can’t really avoid ragweed,” Chadwick said. “Most of the medications that are helpful in terms of medication are Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra and Xyzal, which are all antihistamines that help control allergies.”
Chadwick recommends that people who work outdoors or around grassy areas carry masks and goggles, as prolonged exposure increases the risk.