How to know if you have seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies — also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis — can cause uncomfortable symptoms, usually around the spring or summer months. However, its key symptoms might be mistaken for other conditions that affect your nasal passages, such as sinusitis.

Some key features of seasonal allergies distinguish them from other conditions. Knowing what to look out for can help you seek the right treatment.

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What causes seasonal allergies?

Allergic rhinitis happens when your immune system reacts to something in the environment that it perceives as dangerous. Your body releases chemicals called histamines to attack the allergen, which are what cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

It specifically affects your airways, causing sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, or postnasal drip. Approximately 20% of cases are seasonal in nature, meaning they only affect you at certain times of the year.

Outdoor allergens like airborne pollen from trees or grasses usually trigger seasonal allergies. These are more common in the summer because hot, dry, and windy days tend to have more pollen in the air, whereas on damp, cool days, the pollen is washed into the ground.

Experts aren’t sure exactly why some people develop seasonal allergies, but it’s likely linked to your genes, your environment, and how your environment can affect your genes.

How to tell if it’s seasonal allergies

The first step to identifying seasonal allergies is to consider your symptoms. The most common symptoms include:

• a runny nose
• a blocked nose
• an itchy nose, eyes, skin, or throat
• sneezing
• watery eyes

Some less common symptoms include:

• headaches
• coughing
• a sore throat
• fatigue

The second thing to consider is when you notice symptoms. True to their name, seasonal allergies are most likely to affect you at certain points in the year. If you always notice these symptoms during the summer, particularly on dry, windy days, then your symptoms are likely caused by hay fever.

Usually, you won’t need to undergo any specific tests to diagnose seasonal allergies unless doctors want to rule out other causes. Healthcare professionals will generally consider your symptoms and ask about your health history before making a diagnosis.

Seasonal allergies vs. colds

The symptoms of hay fever might mimic those of other conditions, including colds. However, there are many key differences that distinguish the conditions:

• Causes: Seasonal allergies are due to a reaction to pollen, whereas viruses cause colds.
• Symptoms: While some symptoms of the conditions are similar, there are some differences. Unlike hay fever, colds may also cause fatigue, muscle aches, and a fever. Colds are also unlikely to cause itching.
• Duration: You may notice hay fever symptoms on and off throughout spring and summer, whereas colds generally last less than a week.
• Timing: You can get a cold any time of year, but they’re more common during the winter. Seasonal allergies tend to appear in summer and will return year after year.

Treatments for seasonal allergies

There’s no cure for seasonal allergies, but many treatments may soothe your symptoms and help you feel better.

The primary treatment method for allergic rhinitis is antihistamines. These work by stopping the release of histamine in your body, which causes the symptoms. They might be available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription. Examples include:

• loratadine (Claritin)
• fexofenadine (Allegra)
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Another option for seasonal allergies is nasal corticosteroids. You can take these alone or alongside oral antihistamines. They work by reducing inflammation in your nasal passageways. Examples include:

• fluticasone (Flonase)
• budesonide (Rhinocort)
• triamcinolone (Nasacort)

You may also consider trying OTC decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). These can help relieve congestion in your nose, but they might also cause uncomfortable side effects like insomnia and headaches. It’s important not to take them for longer than 3 days.

Online care for seasonal allergies

If you’re not sure whether you have seasonal allergies, you can reach out to a healthcare professional for advice. After receiving a diagnosis, you can start to manage your symptoms.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Seasonal allergies are very common and tend to appear during the summer months. They’re due to a reaction to pollen, where your immune system releases histamine. This causes a runny or blocked nose, itching eyes, and sneezing.

Usually, doctors will diagnose seasonal allergies by considering your symptoms and health history. You generally won’t need to have any specific tests.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis can mimic those of other conditions, such as a cold. To know what’s affecting you, you can consider things like your specific symptoms and when your symptoms tend to appear.

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