7 seasonal allergies: the year-round round-up

Over the past year, we’ve covered a range of seasonal allergies when they tend to hit allergy sufferers the hardest. Looking back, we’ve covered a lot of ground. Here’s a review of the allergy triggers that pop up throughout the year, and what they mean for suffers.

Summer mold and ragweed

Late summer and early fall offer a double whammy for allergy sufferers. On the one hand, because mold thrives in warm and wet environments, the stuff tends to incubate in and around your home. But also, it’s when ragweed allergies start kicking in. Ragweed pollen is transported by the wind, causing further misery for allergy-sufferers.

Fall mold

Cooler weather provides another opportunity for mold and fungi to proliferate. Falling leaves, when mixed with moisture from morning dew or rainfall, can become a breeding ground for the material. Then, when you rake your lawn, you are also likely to release spores into the air. As with the summer variety, any place prone to moisture, like the kitchen, bathroom, and basement, are likely spots for mold.

Christmas trees

Sure, Christmas trees are festive, beautiful, and fresh-smelling. But they also carry multiple microscopic mold spores, which can lead to asthma and allergic reactions. And that pesky mold is likely to increase while the tree is in your home. There’s even a term for it: Christmas Tree Syndrome.

Winter dust

In the winter, when you crank up the heat, you’re likely to stir up dust in your home. And that can trigger allergic reactions to dust mites, which typically feed on skin flakes from humans and animals. Major causes of dust mite reactions are digestive enzymes from the mite’s gut that exist in its feces and exoskeleton. They can be found anywhere from wall-to-wall carpeting to bedding.

Winter-spring tree pollen

Sometime around March, certain trees start releasing pollen that can be carried in the wind for miles, even into your home, triggering allergy symptoms. The particular culprits are trees with fine, powdery, barely visible pollen that can be easily blown away by a strong breeze. Breathing in just a small amount is enough to cause a reaction.

Spring flower pollen

For people who suffer from allergies triggered by pollen, spring-time flowers can be a mixed blessing. The reason: Plants with flowers need pollination to form new seeds that will, in turn, grow into new plants. But that pollen can also cause allergic reactions, especially when spread by the wind.

Spring and summer grass pollen

In many parts of the U.S., seasonal allergies are triggered by grasses as they start to release pollen, which can be carried by the wind for miles. While only a handful of grass species cause serious allergies, you may be allergic to just one type of grass pollen, or to many.

How can you protect yourself against allergy triggers? One effective method is to use a smart air purifier with a HEPA filter, like Airmega, that can help you keep the air clean in any season.