HOUSTON — You would typically think about spring for allergies with all its flowers in bloom, but for millions of people fall can feel just as miserable.
Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a foreign substance, like say pollen. During the fall months, ragweed pollen is the most likely culprit. The plant has a short life span but packs quite the punch with one plant producing up to one billion pollen grains. It starts assaulting our sinuses in late August and lasts through October.
But ragweed isn’t the only culprit. According to the Washington Post, mold counts start escalating in July and continue to rise through autumn. That can make fall particularly difficult for people sensitive to both.
Add to that the cooler temperatures that lure us outside for long walks, football games and yard work, that can mean there are a lot of us dealing with a stuffy nose, scratchy throat and watery eyes.
So what can you do? First up, if you have the symptoms but have never been tested for allergies, go get tested. Once you know what you are allergic to you will know what to avoid.
If you spend time outdoors, wash up when you come inside and consider showering before bed. And while we may all be sick of masks, wearing one while doing yard work can ease symptoms.