Important Things To Know About Seasonal Allergies

Spring brings fresh air, blooming flowers, and lots and lots of allergy triggers. In 2018, almost 2.4 million Americans were diagnosed with seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. These numbers have likely only gone up.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans that get the sniffles when those clear skies roll around, you might be wondering why that is. Well, in this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about seasonal allergies.

What are Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies are also referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis. This is because they largely affect your nose and other respiratory organs. However, seasonal allergies can happen anywhere throughout your body.

They mostly come from the tiny pollen particles released by certain plants at specific points throughout the year. The immune system will view these pollens as threats and releases histamines to fight against them.

Some people are only affected by pollens from certain flowers, trees, or grasses. You will only have symptoms when exposed to the types of pollens you’re allergic to.

You can develop seasonal allergies at any age. Usually, though, you will not develop new seasonal allergies before age 2 or after age 20.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

The symptoms of seasonal allergies can appear different for each individual person. However, there are some symptoms that are common amongst allergy sufferers. These include:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Clear, runny nose
• Itchy throat and/or nose
• Postnasal drip
• Watery, red, and/or itchy eyes

These symptoms usually begin suddenly. They will generally last the entirety of your exposure to the allergen.

For some people, allergies can also cause coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Allergies in these people may trigger asthma.

Seasonal Allergy Treatments

There are a few different ways to treat seasonal allergies, depending on the severity of your symptoms. The first step to treating your allergies is knowing what causes them. A doctor can perform an allergy test to determine the cause.

For some people, simply avoiding exposure is the best treatment. That’s not always possible, though. In these cases, doctors may recommend allergy medication.

If medications are not working or are not desirable, there are also alternative treatment methods. One of the most effective is called Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT).

SAAT is a simple acupuncture-based treatment. With just a few small pricks, SAAT can virtually eliminate allergy symptoms for those suffering from the following:

• Seasonal allergies
• Food/environmental sensitivities
• Chemical/medical sensitivities

You can address 3 to 4 allergies or sensitivities in a single session. For most patients, allergies do not reoccur after their first treatment session.

Don’t Let Hay Fever Get You Down

Seasonal allergies can be an unavoidable nuisance. Luckily, there are plenty of treatments out there to help you alleviate bothersome symptoms. Now that you know more about allergies and what causes them, you can stop them in their tracks.

Contact our office to make an appointment for your SAAT treatment today. We also offer a variety of other treatments for allergies, including Alpha-Gal Treatment for those with sensitivities to red meat brought on by a tick bite.

Meet Our Expert: Deborah Farley

Founder of Acupuncture Works,LLC in Lynchburg Virginia. Deborah is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Medicine as a Licensed Acupuncturist (L. Ac.).

She is also licensed by the State of Florida as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM). Deborah is a Diplomate of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

She graduated from the East West College of Natural Medicine with a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor’s Degree of Professional Health Sciences.