Surprising Seasonal Allergy Triggers

     The rapid plunge into warm and dry weather has seasonal allergies on everybody’s radar. Allergy symptoms consist of sneezing, runny nose, watery or itching eyes, skin rashes, and common cold-like symptoms. To control these symptoms, many doctors prescribe seasonal medications or even yearly medical regiments to control allergy attacks. While we wait for a good rain to wash away access pollen, it’s good to understand allergy triggers.

     Surprisingly, summer fruits are allergy agitators. Grass or ragweed allergy sufferers are advised to take precaution when eating peaches, pears, and melons when these fruits are in season. Baseball parks also irritate allergy sufferers. The dust and dirt from the field may contain high levels of spores, causing allergy symptoms to surface. The more people in the park, the more dust and dirt travels. Be aware and take precautions such as carrying allergy medications in case of an attack.

     As the evening approaches, be sure to remain downwind during those late night camping adventures or bonfires. Smoke inhalation weakens the body’s immune system causing allergy symptoms to worsen. Lastly, on those beautiful summer days, think about the way heat traps pollen and diesel bringing allergens closer to the ground. It’s a good practice to always check the weather report for air quality. If quality is low, take precautions. Don’t forget to also check the pollen count!