When Floridians think about allergy season, they usually think of spring. When the pollen worsens and the trees bloom with new leaves, people stock up on Claritin and Benadryl to make it through the season. However, spring is not the only time of the year when allergies can peak, as in Florida, the inconvenience is year-round.
Due to Florida’s climate, different sources cause many types of allergies at different points of the year. Summer and spring are similar, in that allergies in both seasons are caused by the typical release of pollen from blooming flowers. When the pollen enters a person’s nose, it sends their immune system into overdrive if they have an allergy. The pollen leads to the production of chemicals called histamines in the immune system. Histamines trigger the standard allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose, itchy eyes or sneezing.
In Florida, these types of allergies continue into September, but as fall and winter approaches, allergies tend to come from different sources. As temperatures come down in fall, allergy-producing plants go back into hibernation. However, starting in August and continuing into November, ragweed season begins. Ragweed is a plant commonly found in Florida; unlike many other plants that bloom in spring, ragweeds bloom and release pollen in the fall. Ragweed allergies are not necessarily worse than other pollen producers, but their notoriety comes from the time of year they form. This is because they technically create a second allergy season.
What can be done to mitigate the effects? Allergies are a frustrating annoyance; without the right tools, they can make any day outside an uncomfortable one. For starters, allergy medication can help. They are the standard over-the-counter products out there, but if needed, stronger allergy medicine is available with a prescription from a doctor. Allergy medication can help, but it is important not to overdo it. Over time, taking too much allergy medication can lead to it becoming less effective or not working at all. Make sure to only take medication when necessary and in the recommended amounts.
Aside from medication, other tools can help deal with allergy symptoms. A big one is keeping windows closed at home or when driving. Open windows lead to pollen flowing in from the outside, which makes allergies worse. Due to Florida’s heat, most people do not leave their windows open all the time, but on those few cool days a year, it might be better to sit outside rather than inside one’s house with the windows open.
On top of that, many smaller things can be done to combat the issue of allergies. Things like cleaning one’s carpets regularly for pollen, or buying hypo-allergenic bedding can make life a lot more comfortable for people with allergies.
Allergies for most are a common nuisance that can be uncomfortable. They are not the end of the world, but why suffer when there are ways to mitigate their effects? Plenty of things can be done to tackle allergy season, and each person has the choice of how they want to deal with it.
