Warm, Sunny, and Still Sneezing: What’s Causing Your Summertime Allergies?

It’s May, and you’re still dealing with the same allergies as when spring flowers were just coming into bloom. You wonder why allergies are especially torturous for you, but you’re actually not the only one. Unfortunately, summertime allergies are all too common. Given the seasonal factors that fill the air this time of year, it’s no wonder that you just can’t seem to shake your symptoms. And while only your allergist will be able to diagnose what is causing your allergies and provide treatment, we’ve compiled some of the season’s cruelest culprits of summer allergies.

Pollen is a huge allergy inducer this time of year. By late spring, it has settled into grasses and weeds that can leave you sneezing and sniffy. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, fresh produce such as apples and melons can cause allergy symptoms, aka food pollen syndrome. It’s due to cross reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables, and some tree nuts.

Insects thrive in the summertime and are another culprit of allergic reactions. These critters include yellow jackets, hornets, bees, wasps, and fire ants. Usually when people are stung by one of these insects, symptoms only last a few hours but can last for a few days.

Smog tends to be at its worst during the summer and is a result of gases and particulates reacting with sunlight. Smog can be harmful to your health and can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms.

You could be picking up your allergy symptoms in your own home. Mold tends to grow in damp, warm locations, such as your basement during the summer. Molds produce spores that become air borne and can cause allergic reactions to people living in the home. According to a study reported in the British Medical Journal, nearly a quarter of the 1,600 individuals with allergy symptoms also had mold in their home. Symptoms in these scenarios included wheezing, cough, runny nose, fever, and headaches.

While mold may be one of the most disturbing causes of summer allergies, it’s one that can at least be controlled. Have your home checked for mold and adjust the climate in the location if mold is found after inspection.

As far as other solutions go for your summer allergies, you’ll want to speak with an allergist. Summer brings a variety of fun opportunities, and the last thing you want to deal with is allergies.