Spring and Summer entices everyone to go outside and smell the flowers. But along with flowers comes pollen, which means we have officially entered allergy season.

Seasonal allergies can impact anyone from infants to the elderly. So learning as much as possible about allergies is essential to your family’s health. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the causes of allergies and how they can impact you and your family. 

What are Allergies?

As we know, allergies are often triggered by the blooming of plants and trees, but allergies could be triggered by anything. In general, allergies are responses from our immune systems. 

Our immune systems attack anything considered to be potentially threatening. “Depending on the allergen,” according to Healthline, “this response may involve inflammation, sneezing, or a host of other symptoms.” 

What this means is that allergic reactions are often a result of our bodies acclimating to changes,  seasonal or not.

The severity of allergic reactions can range from being a minor inconvenience to a major problem. But the first step in treating a condition is identifying the symptoms! 

Common Symptoms

Before treatment can begin, one must identify whether the problem is a result of allergies or something else. Some of the most common symptoms associated with allergies are itchy or watery eyes, coughing, and sneezing. But people experience different symptoms depending on a variety of factors.

Younger kids may only experience one mild symptom while older adults may experience a host of different, long term symptoms. While allergies vary in their intensity, one common feature is that allergies take away from family time. They can make us miss precious moments, like teaching the kids how to ride a bike or listening to grandparents’ stories.

During allergy season, pollen can pose an especially alarming threat for young kids. Thankfully with help from board certified providers, there is high likelihood that most allergic symptoms can be easily treated.

But as important as it is to understand their symptoms, it’s equally important to recognize the common causes of allergies.

Common Causes 

Pinpointing the cause of your or a family member’s allergic reactions is a great step to getting back to enjoying life. But one of the most common causes is connected to the changing seasons, especially when pollen is floating in the air. If our bodies identify pollen as a threat, life can be miserable.

According to the CDC,  “Exposure to pollen has been linked to asthma attacks and increases in hospital admissions for respiratory illness.” Just being aware of one’s surroundings can help prevent seasonal allergies from negatively affecting your family.

Understanding allergies can become another tool in the utility belt of being a great mom or dad!  Moreover, identifying a probable cause of the allergies can help your provider offer the right treatment for your family.

The Next Steps 

MCR Health recognizes how annoying allergies can be for families. That’s why we encourage families to speak with their healthcare providers as soon as symptoms start to appear.

We are here to offer the highest quality care for you and your family this allergy season. So schedule an appointment for you or your family member today!