Why Are Your Allergies So Bad Right Now?

Am I getting sick or are my allergies just really bad right now? It’s a guessing game many of us play from time to time. But nobody likes playing it, and nobody seems to win.

Allergist DeVon Preston, MD, explains why seasonal allergies are so much worse at some times than others — and what you can do to defend yourself against them.

Why allergies get worse

If you feel like your allergies have been dialed up to 11, you’re probably right. Here are some possible reasons why.

Age

Do you find yourself asking “Why are my allergies so bad this year?” every year? Seasonal allergies generally don’t get worse with age, but your symptoms can change with time.

Dr. Preston says that seasonal allergies typically peak in adolescence or young adulthood. For some, symptoms slowly decline from there.

But that doesn’t always mean you feel better, or that your symptoms stay the same long term. New exposures and physical changes can make your allergy symptoms feel worse.

Here are some age-related factors that may influence how much you notice your seasonal allergy symptoms:

• Unrelated health issues: Both chronic health conditions and their treatments can impact your allergy symptoms. Taking a beta-blocker, for example, can make breathing symptoms worse. “That’s why it’s important to keep your allergist updated as your health history and medications change,” Dr. Preston emphasizes.
• Changing immune health: Your immune system changes in interesting ways as you age. It can get weaker, more reactive or less predictable. In every case, these changes affect how (and how much) you react to seasonal allergy triggers.
• Increased sensitivity: Some people find that repeated, long-term exposure to an allergen makes their immune system more reactive over time.
• Dehydration: “As you get older, your skin and mucous membranes — like your eyes and nasal passages — can dry out a bit, making them more prone to irritation,” Dr. Preston explains. Your thirst mechanism may decline, too, meaning you’re less likely to replace the fluid you’re losing.

Longer pollen seasons

In many parts of the world, changing weather patterns mean warm-weather seasons are longer than they used to be. That gives allergy-triggering plants more time to grow, bloom and release pollen into the air.

“Seasonal allergies are starting earlier, lasting longer and getting more intense over time,” Dr. Preston notes. “It’s not all in your head.”

Weather

How long allergy seasons last — and how severe they are — may change from year to year based on weather patterns in your area.

For example, let’s say you’re experiencing a colder, wetter spring than usual. That will push back tree pollen season, causing tree and grass pollen seasons to overlap.

“If you’re allergic to both tree and grass pollens, that’s bad news, because you’ll experience an allergic double-whammy,” Dr. Preston explains.

Poor air quality

You’ve probably heard that air quality is a concern for people with lung conditions like COPD and asthma, but did you know that it can affect people with allergies, too?

“If your airways are already irritated from inhaling secondhand smoke, exhaust fumes or emissions from the factory down the road, your allergy symptoms may feel worse than usual,” Dr. Preston says. “It can make a bad allergy season intolerable.”

New places

Changing locations often means trading one set of seasonal allergens for another.

“If you’re traveling or recently relocated, you might be encountering new allergens, not to mention new weather patterns,” Dr. Preston says.

Final thoughts

So, what can you do about a bad allergy season? Guard against it by:

• Consistently taking your allergy medication regardless of how you’re feeling
• Allergy-proofing your home with air purifiers, HEPA filters and more
• Avoiding your triggers as much as possible
• Reaching out to a healthcare provider if home remedies and over-the-counter medications aren’t helping

“You can’t eliminate seasonal allergies,” Dr. Preston says. “But lifestyle changes can help reduce their impact.”