COMMON ALLERGIES

OUTDOOR ALLERGENS

Trees: Pollinate April and May. Common allergy causing trees include oaks, elms, birches and maples.

Grasses: The last week of May thru July is typically a time when people allergic to grasses experience the most severe allergy symptoms. More people are allergic to grass than anything other allergen. Highly allergenic grasses include Bluegrass, Timothy, Meadow Fescue, Johnson, Rye, Redtop, Orchard, and Bermuda. When the season finally ends with a hard freeze, these allergy symptoms generally go away.

Weeds: The season starts in late July and goes until the hard freeze. In our region, ragweed allergies hit hard around August 15 each year. Other common allergy-causing weeds include kochia, Lamb’s quarters, Russian thistle, pigweed, dock, marsh elder and nettle. Learn more about fall allergies.

Molds: There are thousands of types of molds. The majority of them are outdoor allergens that cause the greatest allergy symptoms in the summer and fall. Examples are the molds Alternaria, Hormodendrum, and Helminthosporium. Unlike weeds, the mold season will continue after the freeze until after Halloween. Some molds grow and release their spores into the indoor air to give year-round symptoms.

INDOOR ALLERGENS

Pets: Pets are a common cause of year-round allergy and asthma symptoms. Cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, and most furry pets can cause allergies. Once the pet is out of the house it generally takes special cleaning to decrease the allergy level and then it is only after several that we see an improvement in your symptoms. Take our Cat Allergy Quiz

Dust Mites: Dust mites live in pillows, mattresses, carpets and furniture. A combination of low humidity, less carpeting, special bedding encasements, and frequent washing of bedding can help.

Do I Need to See an Allergist?

Find yourself wondering if you should see an allergist for you allergy symptoms? Dr. Bubak, board certified allergist at Dakota Allergy and Asthma, will walk you through a simple allergy assessment review things like your symptoms, over-the-counter (OTC) medication options, how you respond to those options and even how you liked the OTC medications.