You Might Be Surprised to Learn That These Elements Can Affect Your Hay Fever

If you are a hay fever sufferer, there is no question that allergy season can be a huge issue – and in California it can last just about all year long. It brings with it a running nose, cough, watery eyes, sinus pressure, and other issues. Many people have no idea that the following elements can affect hay fever. If you are looking for a solution to your hay fever symptoms, contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 for help.

Changes in the Weather

You likely know that your allergies can change as the seasons change, but did you know that any change in the barometric pressure can affect your symptoms? When the pressure is high, so will the pressure in your nasal cavities. This can cause more irritation and sinus pressure.

Second-Hand Smoke

There is no shortage of reasons to prevent being exposed to second-hand smoke, but now you can add “it makes my allergies worse” to the list. If you are a smoker yourself, your allergy symptoms are likely much worse than they would be if you quit.

Alcohol

There are many people that believe the sulfites in alcohol cause allergic reactions, but the science does not support that idea. While some people do have true allergies to these sulfites, they are extremely rare. That said, alcohol can cause non-allergic irritations like a stuffy nose or a runny nose. A person with seasonal allergies might note this more acutely after drinking alcohol.

Wearing Contact Lenses

When you wear contact lenses, pollen and mold spores can become trapped against the surface of your eye. If you are already having issues with red, watery, and itchy eyes, then contacts can just make it worse. We recommend wearing glasses during serious allergy times.

Some Fruits Can Make Hay Fever Worse

Did you know that certain foods, especially fruits, can cause cross-reactivity? One common example is a ragweed allergy. Those who do often notice that their mouth itches after they eat tomatoes or melons.

Lawn Mowing

It is common for a person to assume that they have a grass allergy because when they mow the lawn, they have allergy symptoms. The truth is that this is much more commonly a reaction to the fact that power is stirring up pollen and mold that is located in the grass.

If you suffer from any type of allergy, whether hay fever or another, there is help for you. If you believe you might have allergies but have not yet been tested, there is help for you. We urge people in both of those situations to contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to learn more about how we can help you.