Why Allergies Sometimes Feel Worse in Summer Than Spring

The warm months bring lovely weather and sunny skies, but they also come with the misery of allergies. This adverse reaction to harmless substances is diagnosed in one out of five people in America, and leads to as many as 4 million missed days at work annually, and half of the people struggling with it say it affects the quality of their everyday life. Fifty million people have been confirmed to deal with allergies, and the types range from reactions to food, latex, insect bites, medications, and environmental particles.

Seasonal allergies are also widespread and often strike in the warmer months, particularly in spring, summer, and fall. Many complain the most about allergic reactions in the spring, but the worst attacks can occur later in the warm seasons, particularly during the summer. So, what factors can lead to these changes in intensity in your symptoms, and what can you do about them?

Residents of Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, can seek help from Dr. Wade Han and the allergy team at the Florida Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center for ways to manage their allergies.

Common causes for allergies by season

The triggers of allergies change from season to season because not all plants are as active at the same time in the spring, summer, and fall. Therefore, different trees, grasses, and other plants will be more likely to cause problems depending on the time of year, and they include:

Spring

Tree pollen is the biggest offender at this time of year, and birch, cedar, alder, chestnut, poplar, and willow trees are the ones that will cause your hay fever symptoms.

Summer

Grasses are more likely to affect you during this hottest time of year, with ryegrass, timothy grass, and a selection of weeds the culprits for your allergy issues at this point.

Fall

As the warm days are waning, ragweed is a major cause of allergy problems, and over 40 types of it grow in temperate climates in North and South America.

Factors that make allergies worse

There are numerous things to consider when examining the causes of more severe allergic reactions throughout the year. You may think of spring as the worst time for your allergies, but changes in weather patterns, shifts in humidity, the actual length of a season, and your location in the country all affect how severe your symptoms can be. For example, if you have tree and grass allergies, and pollen activity overlaps from spring to summer, you will have more allergic reactions than usual and possibly more severe reactions.

Other factors can also play a role, regardless of the time of year, such as pet dander, molds, and many household items that can affect you, regardless of the temperature.

Ways to cope

To help you navigate these troubling issues in such pleasant weather, we perform blood and skin tests to identify the specific allergies you’re dealing with and develop a plan to provide relief. Options to ease your symptoms include decongestants, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and immunotherapy. 

Most of the treatments listed offer short-term relief during attacks. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, can be administered in the form of injections or sublingual tablets. It is designed to reduce allergic responses to the allergens for long-term relief.

Whatever the cause of your allergies, we can help you manage their impact on your life. Make an appointment with Dr. Han and the allergy specialists team at Florida Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center today to get control over your allergies.