With the warm summer months behind us, you may think that seasonal allergies are also a thing of the past. However, fall brings its own allergens that will leave you with irritating symptoms, sometimes for weeks at a time. Learn more about the symptoms of fall allergies and when to seek medical help at urgent care.
Fall Allergy Symptoms & Causes
Although plants are mostly dead, allergies are everywhere in the fall. This is due to the falling leaves. In addition to creating a beautiful fall landscape that is great for leaf peepers, dead leaves that fall off of their branches create an abundance of mold spores. Mold spores happen to be a very common allergen.
We are exposed to an increase of mold spores as the fallen leaves begin to rot on the ground. When we disturb the rotting leaves on the ground by walking over them or driving over them, the mold spores are forced airborn where we then inhale them. This can cause irritation to our sinuses, among other symptoms.
Common Allergy Symptoms:
- Irritated throat
- Cough
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Itchy eyes
If you’re experiencing more severe symptoms, such as a fever, you likely are suffering from an illness, rather than seasonal allergies. You should seek medical care at urgent care for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Managing Allergy Symptoms
Allergies can bring discomfort. Most of the time allergy seasons last about 6 weeks. In order to battle the symptoms, here are some tips for reducing your exposure to fall allergens:
- Avoid fallen leaves
- Take over the counter allergy medications
- Take your shoes off before going into the house to limit exposure
- Change your clothes after you have spent time outside
- Use an air purifier in your home
Although allergy symptoms can be long lasting and irritating to deal with, they rarely require medical intervention. If you suffer from chronic allergies, you may be eligible for preventative treatment options such as allergy shots. If you are experiencing severe symptoms or a fever, you should seek medical care at urgent care to ensure you are not suffering from something more serious.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Edgewater for General Illness Treatment Near Edgewater, MD
AFC Urgent Care Edgewater is here to help if you are feeling sick. We offer in house lab testing so that you can get a diagnosis fast. We do not require appointments, so you can walk into our clinic when it is convenient for you, 7 days a week. To learn more about seeking allergy treatment at AFC Urgent Care Edgewater, visit our allergy treatment page on our website. If you have questions about the care we offer, call us directly to speak to a team member at (410) 956-3394.