Nature Coast Times

• Symptoms of fall allergies include runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and nose, and dark circles under the eyes.
• In many areas of the U.S., ragweed pollen, the most common fall allergen, peaks in early to mid-September.
• There are many ways to combat fall allergies, both with over-the-counter medications and by seeing a physician.

As summer starts to cool off and turn into fall, it is important to keep in mind the allergies that come with the fall season. According to Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free, allergies can certainly affect a patient’s sinus.  

“Allergies work on the sinuses in a couple of different ways,” Dr. Pate told the Nature Coast Times. “Obviously, any time you're outside and you breathe in pollen, those particles get into the nasal cavity and into the sinuses and cause inflammation. Over time, those allergies or allergens lead to chronic inflammation, which eventually closes the sinuses down and causes chronic inflammation in the sinuses themselves. Many times, allergies may be the cause, but once it gets to the point where the sinuses get really inflamed, the sinuses themselves have to be treated so the patient feels better.”

According to WebMD, fall allergies are different from the seasonal allergies that come with summer and spring, but can cause just as many symptoms. The biggest allergen for fall is typically ragweed, which starts to release pollen in August and can go through October. Roughly 75% of people allergic to spring plants also have reactions to ragweed, and ragweed pollen can travel hundreds of miles. Mold and dust mites are other common fall allergy triggers.

For those who struggle with fall allergies, it is recommended to remain indoors late morning or midday when pollen is at its peak. It is also recommended that people clean their heating vents before turning on the heat for the first time as the weather starts to cool, as bits of mold and pollen can get stuck in heating vents over the summer. People can also use a dehumidifier and wear a mask when raking leaves.

The 50 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies might experience sneezing, coughing, congestion, itchy eyes, a runny nose, and fatigue, according to Yale Medicine. People who need to undergo testing for allergies typically have two options. For a skin test, the doctor will place a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear. The other option is a blood test, during which the patient's blood is drawn and tested for allergens in a lab. Although this testing method takes longer, it allows doctors to test for more allergens than during a skin test.

According to Tampa Bay Breathe Free's website, Dr. Mariah Pate, a certified otolaryngologist, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida. She earned her medical degree from Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, finishing in the top 5% of her class. Dr. Pate completed her otolaryngology internship and residency at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.