Symptoms
The most common complaints of seasonal allergy sufferers are runny nose, sneezing, cough, itchy, watery, and/or puffy eyes, and nasal congestion. Symptoms may persist without much improvement for weeks or even months, as opposed to a cold, which should clear up in seven to ten days.
Seasonal allergies can exacerbate asthma symptoms and also result in more frequent sinus infections (sinusitis) and ear infections.
Causes
In the Woodlands, we experience astronomically high mountain cedar pollen counts December through February. Just as that season ends, other tree pollens become a problem all the way until June. Grass pollen can cause allergy issues March through September. Fall sees a spike in weed pollen (particularly ragweed) from August through November. Mold spores float through the air like pollen, with levels peaking in late summer.
Diagnosis & Treatment Options
We are here to bring you relief from seasonal allergies! The physicians at Harker Heights Allergy have vast experience diagnosing and treating these issues. We will consult with you on your medical history and symptoms, and then recommend skin or blood testing so we can get to the source of your allergies.
After diagnosis, we will tailor a treatment plan to your individual needs. We explain lifestyle measures that can help you avoid allergy triggers. Some patients have success with allergy medications that we will discuss with you. Additionally, we offer treatment options including sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) and allergy shots. Patients who go the allergy shot route frequently receive a personalized, tailored Cluster Immunotherapy plan from our doctors, which provides faster results than traditional immunotherapy. The allergy shots and drops decrease your immune response to allergens and mitigate symptoms. Our goal is to get you enjoying the outdoors without fear of the allergens floating through the air!
Seasonal Allergies Facts
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Source: Penn Medicine
After a thunderstorm, mold spores, grass, and plant pollen are disturbed and released into the air. The day after a rainstorm, the pollen counts go up and allergy symptoms are triggered.)
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Source: AsthmaAndAllergies.org
Ragweed pollen has been measured in the air 400 miles out to sea and two miles into the atmosphere.
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Source: RediClinic.com
The mountain cedar tree actually belongs to the juniper family. Texas features the largest groupings of these trees, making Texans most likely to suffer from “cedar fever.”