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You can develop seasonal allergies at any time. It’s important to manage them before they lead to another issue.
By Christine Facciolo Published April 9, 2010 at 09:27 AM
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Just as spring brings longer days, buds and blossoms, it also brings misery to the roughly 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or, more commonly, hay fever, are a short-term cyclical inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the nasal passages. In allergies, airborne pollen from seasonal plants—or spores from mold—enter the eyes, nose and throat, triggering an allergic reaction.
The immune system does not usually respond to such harmless substances, but in sensitive individuals, the immune system recognizes these invaders as infectious agents, so it mounts an attack, unleashing a cascade of chemicals that cause inflammation and discomfort. The symptoms of an allergic reaction typically occur from five to 10 minutes after exposure, then subside in about an hour, though they may return several hours later.
The start of allergy season varies by region. In Delaware, most trees pollinate in April and May (though the maple’s pollen season can begin as early as February). Grass pollens are prominent from May through October. Weed pollens are the major offenders during late summer and early fall. Mold spores enter the picture when fallen leaves and vegetation begin to decay in late fall.
And contrary to what you may have heard, Delaware is not the worst location for allergies. “We’re not even in the top 10,” says Dr. Shankar Lakhani of Peninsula Allergy & Immunology in Dover.
Allergies usually develop before age 20. The average age of onset is between seven and 10 years, but it is not unusual for people in their 60s or 70s to develop seasonal allergies. “You can develop allergies at any time in life if you have the genetic predisposition and increased exposure to the allergen,” says Lakhani.
Like other problems involving an abnormal immune system response, allergies tend to run in families. “If one parent has allergies, you have a 40 percent chance of having allergies,” says Dr. Jerome Groll of the Family Practice Center in Lewes. “If both have allergies, then you have an 80 percent chance.”
Because the problem is rooted in your DNA, one thing is certain: If you were born with a genetic predisposition toward allergies, you will have your sensitivity for life. Some allergy sufferers believe they have outgrown their allergies, though all that has changed is the offending substance or the symptoms.
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