If you feel like your allergies have been extra brutal lately, you’re not alone.
While spring is the most notorious time for seasonal allergies, fall can be just as bad, said Dr. Baiju Malde, an allergist and immunologist with Northwestern Medicine.
The main culprit for fall allergies is ragweed, which grows in great numbers in the Midwest and typically starts to bloom in August and peaks in mid-September. One plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
But climate change has caused the seasons to start earlier and last longer, Malde said.
“Since the seasons are longer, more ragweed is growing and that makes allergy symptoms much more bothersome because there’s both more pollen in the air and it’s lingering for much longer,” she said.
While mold levels in Chicago are currently low, Malde said, that’s another fall allergen. Mold grows when water collects in dead leaves. So once more leaves fall and the rain picks up, people with mold allergies might start to feel their symptoms.
Allergy symptoms include a stuffy and runny nose, itchy and red eyes and congestion in the throat, Malde said. For 80% of people with asthma, the condition is triggered by allergies and the symptoms can be more severe, such as tightening in the chest and wheezing, she added.
Complicating matters this time of year is differentiating between allergies and a cold, flu or COVID-19.
Several symptoms overlap, like sneezing and fatigue. But fevers and muscle aches tend to never be allergies and are usually a sign of a virus or infection, Malde said.
While itchiness is a classic sign of allergies, some COVID-19 cases have caused itchy and red eyes, Malde said.
‘You don’t have to suffer’
Luckily, there are plenty of options for managing allergies.
One step is to shower in the evenings to rinse off any pollen. Wipe down surfaces at home and vacuum more regularly. HEPA air filters can filter out dander and mold indoors.
Medications are also available. Malde recommends taking a non-drowsy antihistamine to manage milder symptoms. If symptoms linger, consider taking a nasal steroid, but talk to a doctor first, she said.
For people with allergy-induced asthma, Malde said if you’re using your inhaler more than twice a week for rescue purposes, talk to your doctor.
“You don’t have to suffer,” she said. “A lot of people don’t think allergies are a big deal.”
One in six people have allergies and often just live with them instead of trying to treat them, Malde said. And sometimes it can be more than just a runny nose — allergies can disrupt sleep.
“Managing allergies can help your quality of life,” Malde said. “Why be miserable?”