Did you think you were out of the woods? Spring is coming to an end but does that mean allergy sufferers can rejoice? Possibly not!
Allergist Michael Foggs, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) explains that “summer allergies can cause severe symptoms for some sufferers, and can be just as bad as the spring and fall seasons.”
Even the meaning of the word “allergy” attests to its discomfort:
Image from Google.
This “other energy” can continue into the summer for allergy sufferers. As we noted in our last post about allergies, physical responses can include:
- stuffy/blocked nose
- itchy nose, throat (sometimes even mouth and lips)
- Itchy and red eyes
- sneezing
- Itchy skin
- coughing
Just as in spring, the major allergen in summer is pollen. As soon as we inhale its particles, our symptoms start. It makes sense too, that the more allergens around, the more likely we are to have a severe reaction. So, in summer in Canada, these are the main culprits:
- grass pollen
- moulds (soil, grass, compost)
- ragweed
All three of these allergens are pretty typical in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia but did you know which cities top the list? Edmonton is recognised as the worst city for outdoor moulds? Toronto wins hands-down for its ragweed levels and Vancouver has the most tree pollen.
Many people recognise ragweed as a threat but what about those pesky soil and grass moulds? This kind of mould is usually found in wet areas that don’t have a chance to dry. Think of rotting logs, piles of damp leaves or even compost areas. However, moulds can also be found in very dry or dusty areas where there are grain crops.
So what can we do to ease our suffering? We can cover our faces with a dust mask if mowing the lawn, raking, or composting and, as we suggested in our Spring Allergies post, we can try limiting our time outside in the early morning and early evening when pollen and mould counts are generally higher.
Why not fill in our short questionnaire about allergies and remember to seek medical help if your symptoms don’t improve. Click here for the questionnaire.