Seasonal Allergies

Written By Nina Pliakos

This post is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Do you find yourself sneezing, sniffling, or rubbing your itchy eyes around the same time every year? You’re not alone. Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affect millions of people each year—especially during spring and fall when pollen levels spike.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to airborne allergens like pollen, mold spores, or ragweed (there are tons actually). Your body sees these substances as threats, even though they’re harmless, and launches an immune response that leads to frustrating symptoms.

Common Symptoms

  • Sneezing

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Itchy, watery eyes

  • Postnasal drip

  • Itchy throat or ears

  • Fatigue

  • Dry intermittent cough

Some people also experience worsening of asthma symptoms during allergy season.

What Causes Them?

The culprits depend on the season:

  • Spring: Tree pollen (like oak, cedar, birch)

  • Summer: Grass pollen (like Bermuda or Timothy grass)

  • Fall: Weed pollen (like ragweed, sagebrush)

  • Year-round triggers: Mold spores or dust mites can also spike with weather changes

Managing Seasonal Allergies

1. Limit Exposure

  • Stay indoors on high-pollen days (check your local pollen forecast)

  • Keep windows closed; use air conditioning instead

  • Shower and change clothes after being outside

  • Don’t hang laundry outside to dry—it can collect pollen

2. Natural Remedies

  • Saline nasal rinses: Help clear allergens from nasal passages

  • Local raw honey: Anecdotally thought to help some people build tolerance to local pollen

  • HEPA filters: Use in your home and vacuum to trap airborne allergens

3. Over-the-Counter Medications

  • Antihistamines (like cetirizine or loratadine): Reduce sneezing and itching

  • Nasal corticosteroids (like fluticasone): Help with congestion and inflammation, this can take a few weeks to start helping consistently

  • Decongestants: Short-term relief for stuffy noses

Don’t forget to talk with your provider before starting any new medication, especially iaf you have other health conditions.

4. Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy

If your symptoms are severe or persistent, consider allergy testing. Identifying your triggers can help tailor your treatment plan. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may also help reduce symptoms long-term.

Final Thoughts

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should try to take a daily allergy pill at home for 1 week- is there any improvement? Have things gotten worse? I get a lot of people coming into clinic with complaints of mild congestion that comes and goes, a dry intermittent cough, or just some mild fatigue. This can all be allergy related and is easily blunted with an over the counter allergy pill. You may be able to save yourself a visit to the doctors office if you try the allergy pill first! You should also keep in mind that if you never had allergies previously, that does not mean you will never have them in the future. Finally, if you have asthma already and are feeling like you could have allergies, you should keep a close eye on your symptoms and see a provider asap if your asthma is not controllable.

I think we are all hoping allergy season will be done soon here in AZ :)

-Nina

Nina Pliakos
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