{"id":20361,"date":"2023-03-15T13:24:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T18:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20361"},"modified":"2023-04-24T13:15:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T18:15:23","slug":"is-it-seasonal-allergies-or-something-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/advice\/is-it-seasonal-allergies-or-something-else\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Seasonal Allergies or Something Else?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a lot to love about spring: warmer weather, longer days, fewer layers. However, with these post-winter perks comes allergy season\u2014a time when pollen and mold spores mess with the nasal passages of roughly <\/span>1 in 4 Americans<\/span><\/a>, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/span><\/p>\n

The obvious solution to your springtime sniffles would be to pop an antihistamine and call it a day, right? But what if your symptoms aren\u2019t being caused by allergies?<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the one-two punch of seasonal allergy symptoms intensifying, both in severity and duration (more on that in a minute), and the buffet of respiratory illnesses lingering in the air these days, distinguishing between seasonal allergy, cold and COVID-19 symptoms has become a tricky business.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s become tricky, but not impossible to navigate, allergists say. Despite overlapping symptoms, there are key differentiating factors between each illness that can help you get to the bottom of why you feel so icky.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why your seasonal allergy symptoms feel worse than usual<\/h2>\n

There are a few different notable seasonal allergies. <\/span>Pollen<\/span><\/a> is the allergy trigger most likely to trip up your immune system. From February to May, tree pollen becomes rampant. From April to June, people allergic to grass might see their allergies flare up. And from August to November, weeds release the most pollen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Outdoor molds<\/span><\/a> (think: rotting wood, compost piles) can also cause allergy symptoms. Similar to pollen, molds reproduce by spreading spores through the air. Mold spore counts tend to peak in July in warm states and October in colder ones, while maintaining a year-round presence in the South and on the West Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your seasonal allergies seem more intense and relentless than they used to be, you\u2019re not imagining things. Much of the reason for this can be attributed to climate change. According to the CDC, warmer temperatures, shifts in precipitation patterns and more carbon dioxide emissions are among <\/span>some of the changes<\/span><\/a> affecting the duration and timing of pollen season and the levels of pollen plants produce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor most people who are sensitive to a variety of trees, grasses and weeds, this will likely cause a significant worsening of symptoms,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Carolyn Kwiat<\/span><\/a>, an allergy and immunology specialist based in New York.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weather extremes<\/span><\/a> all have an impact on certain environmental allergens, she adds. Rainfall decreases total airborne allergens, for instance, so droughts can worsen flares in symptoms. On the flip side, floods and intense tropical storms have been shown to increase mold exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n

As allergy symptoms worsen, it can be hard to tell if you\u2019re experiencing allergies or something else, like COVID-19 or a common cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeasonal allergies, colds and COVID-19 can all cause a runny nose, congestion, fatigue and a general sense of malaise,\u201d Kwiat says. \u201cSevere nasal congestion, in particular, can lead to postnasal drip and a sore throat, which can make differentiating between the three even more difficult.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Do you have seasonal allergies?<\/h2>\n

These are the telltale signs allergists recommend looking out for that can indicate which illness you\u2019re probably up against.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s most likely seasonal allergies if:<\/span><\/p>\n