This week we were able to enjoy the autumnal equinox, a well known date that signifies that we are well into the autumn season. We’ve begun trading the summer heat for crispier, cooler air, and the foliage colour is just transforming into gold and crimson. However, for millions, this beautiful autumn season is shadowed by sneezing, itchy eyes or a perpetually blocked or runny nose. The unique environmental shifts of autumn create in some people a perfect storm for new “autumn” allergies.
If that sounds like you, know that you are not alone. These symptoms affect millions of people worldwide. The first step to finding relief is identifying the root triggers behind your symptoms. In order to know this, it helps to be aware of the most potent allergy triggers that come with the new season.
Once the culprits have been found through a good symptom diary and allergy testing, we can start discussing a holistic approach to strengthening your body’s natural defences, reducing allergen exposure or even discussing immunotherapy for allergies. Over time, this holistic approach can lead to vast improvement in your symptoms and general well-being. Let’s take a look at some of the common allergies specifically affecting residents in The New Forest, Bournemouth, and the general South West of England and also London.
The Main Autumn Allergies
Spring and summer allergies are often associated with tree and grass pollen allergies. However, this shifts slightly in the colder months.
Mould Allergy
As the weather becomes milder and the humidity increases outside with more rainy days and general damp, this causes mould to thrive. These microscopic fungi have the ability to release their spores into the air, and if you are allergic to mould, it can trigger significant allergic reactions affecting anything from your airways to your eyes and even your skin.
As there is less sun and temperatures drop, dampness inside homes stays for longer, making it an ideal ground for mould spores to multiply. Piles of leaves, compost heaps and gardens often accumulate more mould spores than in the dryer months. From here, it can also make its way indoors, growing in damp basements, bathrooms or any area of the house or flat with poor ventilation.
Weed Pollen Allergy
Airborne pollen doesn’t just disappear at the end of summer. Although the grass pollen counts drop massively, this is replaced by weed pollen coming from nettle, mugwort, ragweed and dock. These can cause the classic hayfever allergy symptoms even without the hay! Even if you don’t live close to fields, pollen from these weeds can travel for hundreds of miles in the wind, thus affecting the whole of the UK population, from Bournemouth to London and further north.
Dust Mite Allergy
As well as trapping mould spores indoors, the number of dust mite allergen particles also increases. This is due to us closing our windows and turning on the central heating for the first time in months. It’s the protein on the waste products of these tiny creatures that causes the allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. As we also tend to spend more time indoors, our time exposure to dust mites and potentially mould and other indoor pollutants and aeroallergens also increases. This can lead to a spike in allergy symptoms and even asthma flare-ups.
A Doctor’s Advice for Managing Autumn Allergy Symptoms
I truly believe that the best allergy management is built on a foundation of science-backed diagnosis and a comprehensive and personalised treatment plan.
1. Diagnosis
Both of these can only happen in the presence of a medical allergy specialist. The best allergy testing method is through skin prick testing, followed by a consultation that takes a holistic look at your medical history, test results and symptoms. If you can’t attend locally to either my Bournemouth or London clinic, you may also take an ALEX2 test at home. However, the results of any ALEX2 or RAST IgE test performed by your NHS GP are also best interpreted by an allergy consultant, as the result could also show irrelevant false positive results, leading to unnecessary allergen avoidance.
2. Management
Once the correct allergy is established, we can then discuss the best management options for you. This could mean changes in your diet, lifestyle, potential supplements, medication or even an allergy desensitisation program such as immunotherapy.
Diet
Diet is not a cure for environmental allergies. However, certain foods contain natural compounds that may help decrease your body’s inflammatory response.
Boosting Vitamin C intake has long been established to be an effective way of improving your immune system. A good immune system means all works as it should. As allergic reactions also generate oxidative stress, ensuring you have enough vitamin C onboard, which acts as an antioxidant, is a good way of reducing the oxidative damage. A few studies, mostly in vitro have also linked a higher level of vitamin C to less severe allergic reactions.
Vitamin C may also improve the absorption of Quercetin, a supplement that some studies have shown may reduce the histamine release from mast cells, thus helping stabilise them. Histamine is released during allergic reactions, and a lower level of histamine may reduce the severity of the reactions.
Home Environment
Minimising your exposure to home allergens that thrive in humid conditions is critical to any allergy management plan. I always advise my patients to try an indoor air purifier with a HEPA filter. Using this particularly in the bedroom is a good way of reducing airborne dust mite particles, mould spores or even weed pollen that has made its way indoors.
A dehumidifier can also help reduce the indoor humidity if it is generally above 60%. The best range for indoor humidity is between 40-50% if you suffer from allergies. This is enough to keep the nasal passages moist, reducing irritation from dry air, but also low enough to inhibit dust mites and mould growth.
Here is a useful diagram to understand the best home humidity:
Washing your bedding weekly in hot water at 60°C also kills dust mites.
After coming indoors, particularly if you were out in the garden or went on walks, it’s best to change your clothes and shower to rinse off any allergens stuck to your skin or hair.
By combining prompt medical diagnosis, lifestyle changes and medical interventions, at Holistic Allergy, we can help you find a clear path to lasting allergy relief. We employ a proactive, evidence based approach that helps you understand your body and effectively manage your condition so you can enjoy all the beauty this season has to offer.
If you want to discuss your symptoms to find relief and prevent them from worsening in the winter season, get in touch to see how we could help.
