Medically reviewed by
Richard P. Silton, MD
The weather is lovely in fall and everyone wants to get outside and enjoy it. There are lots of fun things to do in and around Charlotte, NC during the fall months. Activities include everything from hiking to hayrides and apple picking to collecting an array of colorful fall leaves. Other activities include:
- Fishing & visiting local lakes, rivers, & streams
- Tailgating at local football games
- Going to the U.S. National Whitewater Center
- Hitting one of the many local greenways on bikes or by foot.
- Experiencing some of the many outdoor festivals.
- Planting fall bulbs in your garden that you can enjoy in the spring
- Trying out many of the outdoor breweries & restaurants.
- Visiting many of the farmer’s markets & fruit stands.
Unfortunately, what keeps many from enjoying these activities, is often seasonal allergies. You want to be outdoors, but your fall allergies are curtailing your outdoor time and stealing your energy. That’s where we can help.
What Makes Fall So Tough for Allergy Sufferers?
Ragweed becomes prevalent when cool nights and warm days convinces the ragweed to shed its pollen – this cycle lasts well into the fall, and allergies can be worse at night.
Moreover, people who have allergies to plants that bloom in spring and summer have a 75% probability of reacting to ragweed. Don’t think you can get away from ragweed symptoms by moving away from the source – ragweed pollen travels hundreds of miles with only the wind to carry it.
Trees also release pollen in the fall so this may be another issue for allergy sufferers. To see what trees are releasing pollen now, check out our local Charlotte pollen and mold counter.
Foods can also mimic the symptoms of fall pollen allergies. People with ragweed sensitivity have a high correlation with allergy symptoms from eating bananas, melon, and zucchini among other fruit and vegetables. This is called Oral Allergy Syndrome. We can help with this too.
Molds are another substance that triggers fall allergies. These molds are no different from the more familiar molds that tend to grow in damp places like your bathroom or kitchen. Molds also love to snuggle into damp piles of leaves that collect on your lawn and sidewalk. They are particularly bad in the southeast and very common in our areas. Molds are easily airborne too, so gusty winds stir them up.
What Are the Symptoms of Fall Allergies?
Symptoms vary among allergy sufferers. Which symptoms you have is determined by which part of your body usually exhibits signs of sensitivity. The following are the common symptoms of fall allergies, some of which can be due to rhinitis:
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Congestions
- Wheezing/asthma trigger
- Itchy eyes and nose
- Dark circles under the eyes
Fighting Fall Allergies in Charlotte, NC
Battling fall allergies has several levels of treatment. Following are a few ways to help take control of your fall allergies.
- Buy a dehumidifier. If you feel your home is damp, this might be the action you need to take. Dust mites and molds are most active in a moist environment. Dehumidifiers take moisture out of the air and dry air is inhospitable to mold and dust mites.
- Rid your skin of pollen and airborne allergens. When you are done with outside activities, wash pollens off your hair and skin. Changing shoes helps prevent tracking of allergens throughout the house, changing clothes near the door to your home also helps keep contaminants at bay.
- Keeping windows and doors closed when pollen is high. The last thing you want is that cooler breeze bringing pollen into your home.
- Take an over-the-counter antihistamine or allergy nasal spray. Patients should discuss with their doctor which OTC medicine is best for them.
- Take a test. If non-prescription medication doesn’t provide you relief, consider seeing one of our board-certified allergists at any of our 15 office locations. We would love to partner with you to help you find relief.
- Tracking the local pollen levels. We post pollen & mold conditions on our website daily so the community can keep tabs on the local conditions.
If you are a victim of fall allergies near Charlotte, Rock Hill, Gastonia, Hickory, Lake Norman, Concord, & in between these areas contact us today to help get your allergies under control. Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center would love to see you at one of our 15 allergy & asthma clinics.
