As combines roll and pollen fills the air across southeast Saskatchewan, many residents are reaching for the tissue box, battling the familiar symptoms of seasonal allergies. To shed some light on this annual affliction, Dr. Stanley Enebeli, Medical Health Officer for the region, explained what causes these allergies, how to tell them apart from a common cold, and what you can do to find relief.
If you find yourself sneezing and sniffling at the same time every year, you're not alone. According to Dr. Enebeli, this predictable timing is the hallmark of seasonal allergies. The culprit is our exposure to airborne particles from plants.
“They are caused by exposure to pollens,” Dr. Enebeli stated. "So, pollens from trees, grasses, or weeds.” He clarified that the allergens, such as pollen, enter the body and trigger the immune system. With the immune system seeing the pollen as a threat, you start to develop the symptoms of what is called allergic rhinitis.
“Your body then responds to the allergen by releasing chemicals that causes the symptoms in the nose,” Dr. Enebeli added. “So, we’re talking about symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, might feel congested in your chest, itchy, watery or red eyes.”
With symptoms that can easily be mistaken for a respiratory virus, it can be tricky to know what you're dealing with. Dr. Enebeli says the biggest clue is the time of the year.
“We see more pollens in the warmer months, as compared to, I would say, cold symptoms, or which are usually respiratory virus related," Dr. Enebeli advised. “So, we tend to see that more in the colder months. When you have the same symptoms, particularly happening year after year in the warmer months, then likely tending towards more of the seasonal allergies or hay fever.”
For most people, allergy symptoms are mild and can be managed with home treatment. Dr. Enebeli also offered several preventative steps to protect yourself, especially on days with high pollen counts.
"One of the things to do is to limit outdoor time during the warmer months, or when we have high levels of pollen," he explains. He also suggests simple habits to reduce pollen exposure indoors. "Shower after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and air. Then we do recommend that you change your clothes after being outdoors. Then it's also important, particularly if you're very sensitive to pollens, to keep windows closed during pollen season."
For those with asthma, it's especially important to take prescribed medication, as allergies can worsen their condition.
However, home treatment isn't always enough. Dr. Enebeli stressed that severe symptoms warrant professional medical attention.
"If those individuals begin to experience severe symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or very severe difficulty with breathing, then at that point, I would encourage them to seek care with their healthcare provider."