Allergies how long they last

Most of them grow in temperate regions of North and South America. Their pollen is a very common allergen, and the symptoms of ragweed allergy can be especially severe. Other plants that drop their pollen in the fall include nettles, mugworts, sorrels, fat hens, and plantains. By winter, most outdoor allergens lie dormant. As a result, cold weather brings relief to many people with hay fever.

But it also means that more folks are spending time indoors. Indoor allergens are often easier to remove from your environment than outdoor pollens. Here are a few tips for ridding your home of common allergens:. Hay fever is usually easier to diagnose than other allergies.

Your doctor may also check your ears, nose, and throat to make a diagnosis. Your treatment for allergic rhinitis will likely be the same, no matter what type of allergen you react to. The best medicine for hay fever and year-round allergic rhinitis is avoidance of allergens that trigger symptoms for you. Medications are also available to treat symptoms of hay fever.

Some people also try alternative treatments. Take steps to avoid seasonal allergens. For instance, use an air conditioner with a HEPA filter to cool your home in summer, rather than ceiling fans. Check your local weather network for pollen forecasts, and try to stay indoors when pollen counts are high. At times of year when your hay fever is active:.

In severe cases, your doctor may recommend allergy shots. Some allergy medications may have unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.

Shop for over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines online. Few studies have been done on alternative treatments for hay fever. Some people believe the following alternative treatments may provide relief:. The symptoms of seasonal allergies can be uncomfortable. If you suspect you have seasonal allergies, talk to your doctor. They can help diagnose the cause of your symptoms and prescribe a treatment plan. The two conditions have different causes and the symptoms vary in type and duration.

Identifying which condition a person has allows for the most appropriate treatment. Variations in the history of the illness and duration of symptoms often offer clues as to which condition is present. People should consider the following differences when trying to identify whether they have a cold or an allergy:.

There is often a difference in how long symptoms of colds and allergies last. According to the CDC, cold symptoms typically last about 7 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms may last several weeks, particularly if the allergen remains in the air. One of the main ways to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy is by the symptom history.

Colds and allergies do share similar symptoms. For example, both conditions can affect the respiratory system. Common symptoms that can occur with either a cold or allergy include:. There are over subtypes of viruses that can cause a cold with the rhinovirus being the most common. Colds are transmitted through droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing. Although colds occur more commonly in the winter, they can develop any time of the year.

An allergy is not caused by a virus and is not contagious. Instead, an allergy develops when the immune system reacts to a usually harmless substance as if it were dangerous. The body releases compounds to combat what it perceives as a harmful substance. One compound released is histamine. This compound is intended to protect the body and fight the invader, but histamine causes many of the common allergy symptoms. Although some over-the-counter medications target both colds and allergies, there are several differences in how each condition is treated.

Currently, there is still no cure for a cold. Treatment for a cold usually involves getting plenty of rest, staying well hydrated and using a humidifier to decrease congestion. However, there are some over-the-counter medications available to improve symptoms of a cold. Mold spores tend to peak midsummer through the fall, depending on location.

Even kids who have never had seasonal allergies in years past can develop them. Seasonal allergies can start at almost any age, though they usually develop by the time someone is 10 years old and reach their peak in the early twenties, with symptoms often disappearing later in adulthood. If your child develops a "cold" at the same time every year, seasonal allergies might be to blame. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly and last as long as a person is exposed to the allergen, can include:.

Kids who have wheezing and shortness of breath in addition to these symptoms might have allergies that trigger asthma. Seasonal allergies are fairly easy to identify because the pattern of symptoms returns from year to year following exposure to an allergen. Talk with your doctor if you think your child might have allergies. The doctor will ask about symptoms and when they appear and, based on the answers and a physical exam, should be able to make a diagnosis.

If not, the doctor may refer you to an allergist for blood tests or allergy skin tests. To find an allergy's cause, allergists usually do skin tests in one of two ways:. Even if a skin test or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must also have symptoms to be definitively diagnosed with an allergy.