What actually causes seasonal allergies?

Sneezes and sniffles are often signs of seasonal allergies, but why do we feel those symptoms?

Dr. Chris Mody, the head of the Department of Immunology at the University of Calgary, said it’s not the weather itself that causes allergies. The weather affects allergens that are already in the environment.

“As the weather changes, plants pollinate differently,” Mody said. “Things get wet, they dry out, when they dry out and the wind blows, then things are more mobile, and so you experience it more.”

The traditional allergy season occurs when the presence of pollen is particularly high, usually in the spring and fall, but people can experience symptoms at any time of year.

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Mody said it’s too early to tell if this year’s allergy season will be significantly different from last year. It will depend on how the weather will affect plant growth and other factors that distribute allergens.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies usually last depending on the length of exposure to those allergens.

“It could take a few days, it could take a few weeks, it could even take a few months in some circumstances for people to settle down and reach a new baseline once the exposure to the allergens stops,” Mody said.

If you keep feeling heavy seasonal allergy symptoms, the best thing to do is to consult your doctor.