Autumn winds carry the scent of green lawns and falling leaves, and the promise of pumpkins and fresh apple cider. The morning air is invigorating. Warm socks and woolen sweaters replace shorts and sandals. Nature couldn’t be more agreeable, unless, that is, you’re one of the 36 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. If so, you may find yourself cursing those same autumn breezes.
If you’re like most of us, you’ll blame the sneezing and coughing on the common cold virus. You’ll replay the week looking for suspects: the treadmill at the gym; the door to the public restroom; the bank teller who sneezed in your direction. But more often than not, blame belongs to one of nature’s most irrepressible troublemakers—ragweed and its nearly endless artillery of tiny but mighty pollen grains.
Ragweed is an invasive plant with grayish to silvery green foliage, a coarse hairy stem, and a preference for dry, sandy soils that have been disturbed by human intervention, such as construction or cultivation. It ranges in height from two - 15 feet and produces millions of nearly invisible pollen spores within a single season.
In the United States, ragweed pollen is virtually everywhere, from roadside fields and meadows to vacant lots and riverbanks. It’s the nation’s number one cause of hay fever, also called ragweed allergy. Pollen season usually runs from early August to early October, with counts peaking on warm, dry, windy days. During wet chilly periods when pollen grains cluster together and are too heavy to be airborne, the count falls. As temperatures drop below 40 degrees, you’ll begin to feel lasting relief.
The assault begins innocently enough. In mid-morning, as the humidity drops, ragweed plants release millions of nearly invisible pollen grains into the air. The wind carries them to trees, shrubs, lawns, vehicles, doors and windows, kids and pets. Any surface will do. That includes the mucous membranes of your nasal cavities. Your body reacts to these foreign invaders with classic allergy symptoms: a runny nose, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, coughing and sneezing, and a ticklish postnasal drip.
Cold or Allergy?
How do you tell the difference between a cold and an allergy, and does it really matter? Yes, it matters. A wrong diagnosis can mean the wrong medication and treatment. And, though symptoms are similar (runny nose, coughing, sneezing, itchy throat, headache and watery eyes), there are ways to tell the difference:
- Allergy symptoms can linger from August until the first frost. Cold symptoms generally last only a week or two.
- A runny nose from a cold may turn yellow and green within a few days. Inside the nose, the mucosa is usually red and inflamed. With allergies, a runny nose remains clear and the mucosa is often pale and swollen.
- Changes in the weather can affect allergy symptoms, but normally not a cold. A heavy rain will reduce pollen counts, resulting in improved symptoms. Dry, windy weather will raise pollen counts, resulting in worse symptoms.
- Colds spread from person to person, through contact. Allergies don’t. If one person in the household is sick for several weeks and no one else catches it, an allergy is the more likely cause.
Allergy Care and Prevention
Autumn allergies, with a few minor changes in lifestyle, should not be overwhelming. So, before you pack your bags en route for the tropics, take a look at these tips:
- Monitor local pollen counts and stay indoors as much as possible on days when the count is high. Avoid going outdoors early in the morning when pollen is released into the air. Keep the windows closed to reduce exposure to allergens. In the car, close the windows and use re-circulated air for cooling or heating.
- Consider whole house air filters, room filters, and vent filters (attach directly to vents) to trap pollen before it reaches the air you breathe.
- Use a dust mask if you’re working outdoors and stirring up pollen grains. Once inside, shower and wash your clothes.
- Wipe down outdoor pets before they roll around on furniture and carpets.
- If you come down with an allergy, you may want to ask your doctor about antihistamines (such as Claritin and Allegra) nasal steroids (such as Flonase and Nasonex), as well as nasal sprays to reduce flare-ups. And one last point…drink plenty of fluids.
If you're coughing, sneezing, and doing your best to enjoy a clear autumn sky through watery eyes, don't be too quick to point a finger at the common cold virus. The real offender may be a pollen grain, tiny but mighty. Distinguish between the two, tweak your living space, and enjoy the autumn air.
Sources:
WebMD, "Fall Allergies," June 04, 2008
MedicineNet, "Taking the Itch out of Fall Allergies," August 20, 2004
Mayo Clinic, "Hay Fever," May 02, 2008
George Conway - George Conway is a freelance writer with twenty years of experience in healthcare and non-profit training, management and administration. ...
Join the Conversation