Seasonal allergy symptoms that are triggered by environmental pollen can affect the entire respiratory system and cause additional health problems, such as headaches. The seasons in which allergic reactions occur provide clues to their allergens.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that flowering plants are actually less likely to provoke allergies than trees, weeds and grasses. Pollen production by trees such as alder and birch may cause symptoms in spring, while summer bouts of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, may be due to grass or ragweed pollen.
Itching
The pollen granules of some trees, weeds and grasses are profuse, and they are small and light enough to become airborne, as the Cleveland Clinic relates. An allergic reaction to these pollen grains occurs when they contact the mucous membranes of the eyes or nose and are inhaled and swallowed.
Classic rhinitis allergy symptoms compiled by the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, include itchy eyes and nose. These may be the first symptoms to arise from allergen contact, followed by itching in the mouth and throat.
Nasal Congestion
A runny and stuffy nose are more major signs of allergic rhinitis. As the pollen invades the respiratory system, the body is signaled to increase mucus production, causing a runny nose. The UMMC explains that when nasal passages become inflamed from the allergic reaction, congestion occurs.
A post-nasal drip may also develop, which can irritate the throat and generate further allergy symptoms. Nasal symptoms will persist as long as the allergen remains in the patient’s environment, which is why hay fever sufferers are often counseled to stay indoors when the pollen count is high.
Swelling
Inflammation in the nasal membranes causes swelling. The increased blood flow can make the nose red, swollen and tender, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Expelling excess mucus through the nose exacerbates this condition. Eye membranes can also swell, resulting in allergy symptoms of puffy eyelids and watery eyes.
Coughing
A cough may accompany an allergic reaction to pollen, either as a response to throat itching, post-nasal drip or asthma complications. The Nemours Foundation relates that when a cough is followed by wheezing or shortness of breath, it may indicate the onset of asthma symptoms brought about by allergic rhinitis.
Sneezing
Sneezing is an involuntary response by the body to harmful foreign substances or breathing obstructions. The Cleveland Clinic reports that sneezing symptoms commonly accompany allergic rhinitis as an attempt to throw off tree, grass or weed pollens. Sneezing also serves to expel mucus, to relieve a stuffy or runny nose that is hampering breathing.
