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The Global Insight

What causes allergies in the summer

Author

Emma Valentine

Updated on April 14, 2026

Summer allergies are usually caused by pollen from grass, which reaches moderate to high levels throughout the summer months. Ragweed is a common fall allergen, but it also begins to bloom in late July and August. Mold spores and stinging insects are other allergy culprits during the summer.

What allergies are worse in summer?

Pollen Is the Biggest Culprit Trees are usually done with their pollen-fest by late spring. That leaves grasses and weeds to trigger summer allergies. Ragweed is one of the most common summer allergy triggers. It can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind.

Why do I have bad allergies in July?

July to September: Enter ragweed, a common flowering plant. Ragweed is the leading cause of seasonal allergies, with 75% of all sufferers allergic to it. October: With temperatures falling and plants starting to go dormant, the air starts to clear, bringing an end to outdoor allergy season.

How do you fix summer allergies?

Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers To reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens): Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

What are summer allergies called?

Seasonal allergies, sometimes called “hay fever” or seasonal allergic rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that happen during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.

How can I tell the difference between allergies and coronavirus?

4) Patients with allergies do not develop a fever. Often people with COVID-19 do. 5) Patients with allergies may also have asthma, which can cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. COVID-19 typically does not cause wheezing.

Why are my allergies so bad 2021?

Scientists believe that allergies may be getting worse because of climate change. Warmer temperatures cause plants to bloom sooner and increase pollen generation, resulting in more pollen in the air. Thus, the allergy season in 2021 may be the worst yet.

How can I cure my allergies naturally?

  1. Cleanse your nose. Pollens adhere to our mucus membranes. …
  2. Manage stress. …
  3. Try acupuncture. …
  4. Explore herbal remedies. …
  5. Consider apple cider vinegar. …
  6. Visit a chiropractor. …
  7. Detox the body. …
  8. Take probiotics.

Does vitamin C help with allergies?

A potent antioxidant, vitamin C protects your cells from damage, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps your body to fight infections. When taken during allergy season, vitamin C can slow down the overreaction of your body to environmental triggers by decreasing your body’s histamine production.

What can I drink for allergies?

If you feel stuffy or have postnasal drip from your allergies, sip more water, juice, or other nonalcoholic drinks. The extra liquid can thin the mucus in your nasal passages and give you some relief. Warm fluids like teas, broth, or soup have an added benefit: steam.

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Is a sore throat a symptom of allergies?

When you have allergies, your body releases chemicals (called histamines) and they fight the allergen in the same manner as when you battle a cold bug. You can develop swollen nasal passages, runny nose, sneezing, cough and a sore throat. Unlike the common cold, allergies are not contagious.

Why are my allergies so bad all of a sudden?

The dust in your home may contain pollen as well as a cocktail of year-round allergens – pet hair and dander, mold and dust mites – that could make your allergies flare up.

Why are allergies worse at night?

Researchers found that certain types of pollen, which are usually suspended higher in the atmosphere while air is warm, tend to fall closer to the ground level during cool hours at night. If you sleep next to an open window, you may be exposed to these, which worsen your allergy symptoms.

Why are my allergies so bad in June?

June. June is a key grass pollen month in many areas, and it’s likely that grass pollen will start to trigger your spring allergies by this time of year if it hasn’t already. As the days get longer and the temperature gets higher, you’ll probably want to spend more time outdoors.

What are symptoms of bad allergies?

  • sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose (allergic rhinitis)
  • itchy, red, watering eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough.
  • a raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
  • swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face.
  • tummy pain, feeling sick, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Do allergies make you tired?

Allergies can cause all kinds of unpleasant, distracting symptoms, from digestive upsets and headaches to respiratory trouble and runny eyes. However, you may also have experienced another few hallmark symptoms of allergy problems: fatigue, drowsiness, and mental sluggishness.

How long do allergies last for?

Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air (usually 2-3 weeks per allergen). Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.

When does allergy season begin and end?

In Southern California, we experience astronomically high pollen counts starting in December/January. Just as that season ends, other tree pollens become a problem all the way until June. Grass pollen can cause allergy issues March through September.

Can you confuse allergies with Covid?

Coronavirus symptoms can look similar to seasonal allergies, but often include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. A subset of patients may complain of not being able to taste or smell, or experience diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Can allergies make COVID-19 worse?

Are people with allergies more susceptible to coronavirus than others are? At this point, we do not know. While people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, people with allergies don’t have a compromised immune system; their allergies are actually an overreaction of the immune system.

What are the first few symptoms of Covid?

  • Fever or chills.
  • Cough.
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  • Fatigue.
  • Muscle or body aches.
  • Headache.
  • New loss of taste or smell.
  • Sore throat.

What are the worst months for allergies?

Allergy season is usually most severe in the spring, around the first week of May. That’s because seasonal allergies — called allergic rhinitis or hay fever — commonly occur due to pollen from trees and grass, which are most prevalent in the spring and early summer.

Is honey a good antihistamine?

In this study, the ingestion of honey, together with the antihistamine treatment, significantly improved all the 4 symptoms, including nasal congestion. This study also showed that all 4 cardinal symptoms of AR showed more of an improvement within the first 4 weeks in those with honey ingestion.

Is Lemon an antihistamine?

Lemons. Full of vitamin C and bioflavonoids, which in combination act as a natural antihistamine and natural decongestant, and possess strong anti-allergy properties.

What foods help allergies?

  • Ginger. Many of the unpleasant allergy symptoms come from inflammatory issues, like swelling and irritation in the nasal passages, eyes, and throat. …
  • Bee pollen. …
  • Citrus fruits. …
  • Turmeric. …
  • Tomatoes. …
  • Salmon and other oily fish. …
  • Onions.

What tea is good for allergies?

  • ROOIBOS. “Red tea”, rooibos herbal tea contains several natural components (bioflavonoids such as rutin and quercetin) that block the release of histamines – an important factor in allergic reactions. …
  • GINGER. …
  • PEPPERMINT. …
  • LEMON BALM. …
  • LICORICE. …
  • GREEN TEA. …
  • BERRIES. …
  • TURMERIC.

How do you cure allergies forever?

There is currently no cure for allergies. However, there are OTC and prescription medications that may relieve symptoms. Avoiding allergy triggers or reducing contact with them can help prevent allergic reactions. Over time, immunotherapy may reduce the severity of allergic reactions.

Is water good for allergies?

Remember, water is essential to your health. Staying properly hydrated means your body can react better to the pesky allergens, and not need to produce such high levels of histamines due to lack of water. Water is an inexpensive and effective way to regulate your seasonal allergies. So, drink up.

Is caffeine good for allergies?

caffeine. Caffeine has an anti-allergic effect. The cause of hay fever was that a substance called histamine causes allergic symptoms. One study found that caffeine can reduce the amount of histamine released by pollen itself.

Can allergy cause coughing?

Coughing can be a frustrating side effect of allergies. This symptom can be triggered by allergens such as tree pollen and grass, animal dander, dust mites, and mold, mildew or fungus spores.

Can allergies cause headaches?

There are occasions where allergies or sinus problems can lead to a person to have headaches. Headaches with rhinitis (hay fever) are common and may be due to sinus disease in and around the nasal passages. A sinus headache is hard to identify since headache specialists consider true sinus headache to be fairly rare.