Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Why Do Allergies Get Worse in Autumn? (LiveScience.com) : Asthma General Information, Tips and Resources

While hay fever and allergies caused by trees are usually associated
with springtime, seasonal allergies can also spike during the early fall
months. Cool autumn air harbors irritants that can be just as
unpleasant as pollen.

Allergens from trees and grasses float through the air in spring,
summer and fall, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
These particles can enter a person’s nose, eyes, ears and mouth,
triggering an allergic reaction.

“The most common fall allergy is ragweed, which pollinates from
August 15 to early October through most of the United States and parts
of Europe,” said Dr. Jay M. Portnoy, chief of allergy, asthma and
immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City,
Mich. “It http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/what-is-hay-fever-0541/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">causes hayfever, with symptoms that include sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes.”

Mold spores are also released in autumn, and become more common in
the air as decaying leaves and other vegetation fall to the ground,
Portnoy said. This worsens allergy symptoms because as http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/is-it-safe-to-cut-off-the-mold-and-use-th..." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mold particle counts climb higher,
they become increasingly irritating to people with allergies. High mold
counts also contribute to breathing problems among those with asthma,
Portnoy said.

“Sadly, fall is also virus season, with increased colds and the flu,”
Portnoy told Life’s Little Mysteries. “Since all of these are happening
at the same time, it is often hard to tell what is due to allergies and
what is due to infection.”

Attempting to escape fall allergens by staying indoors probably won’t
work, Portnoy said, because low humidity inside homes is another major
trigger of http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/what-causes-allergies-0457/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nasal and lung allergy symptoms.
Low humidity dries out mucous membranes and leads to inflammation,
while cold, dry air causes the lining of the nose to become swollen,
resulting in a stuffy and runny nose.

While the ideal indoor humidity is from 35 to 50 percent, homes and
offices may have a humidity level as low as 16 percent. Portnoy advises
using a humidity meter, also known as a hygrometer, to keep track of the
humidity levels. If levels are low, a humidifier may help relieve nasal
problems.

Changing vent filters and servicing heating systems can also ease symptoms. Vacuuming and
to keep dust mites, pet dander or other indoor allergy triggers under
control may help alleviate discomfort, according to the NIH.

But there’s still some good news for those suffering from autumn allergies.

“Many people get better once the weather turns colder and stops
fluctuating from warm and cold,” Portnoy said. “By November, it often
gets better.”

This article was provided by http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Life’s Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience.

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This is a good overview of all the various triggers for asthma that increase in the fall, but it misses the underlying miasmatic (homeopathic understanding of deeper genetically encoded disease) factor, namely the chronic disease of psora, which is strongest in the fall. Beyond all of the asthma home remedies which we teach people to use, ultimately treating the deeper causes, including the Psora miasm, are necessary for a complete cure of all the factors behind the asthmatic condition.