Summer allergies are no walk in the park — or rather, they may really flare up during your walk in the park — and that’s a drag!
In central Texas, however, it can be confusing to distinguish which uncomfortable allergy symptoms go with which specific condition.
Of course, to get true relief, you’ve got to have a correct, well-informed diagnosis. Only this can put you on the path to truly effective treatments.
At the Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas, we’re experts at taking a deep dive into the symptoms you’re experiencing, arriving at an accurate diagnosis, and creating an effective, evidence-based treatment plan that’s customized for you and you alone. Even better? We care — a lot!
We take pride in the relationships we build with our patients, which are based on trust and marked by compassion.
We know that people can be allergic to things like foods and insect venom, but pollen is what prompts the miserable symptoms of summer allergies, like:
The culprits that cause summer allergies are pollen-producing plants and grasses — common ones include ragweed and Kentucky bluegrass.
Cedar fever, on the other hand, causes a couple of distinct symptoms that don’t overlap with those typical of summer allergies.
Mountain cedar tree (also known as Ashe juniper) pollen contains an allergen, Jun a 1, that can have an effect on your immune system and cause you to develop a low-grade fever, as well as a dry cough and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyes’ conjunctiva, or the thin, transparent membrane that protects your eyes and ensures they’re lubricated).
It also causes inflammation of the mucous membranes inside your nose, a condition known as rhinitis. This leads to congestion and postnasal drip, as well as other common allergy symptoms, like a runny nose and sneezing.
In general, your fatigue and congestion are going to be more intense with cedar fever.
The most significant difference between summer allergies and cedar fever is the season when they strike, however. Cedar fever peaks in winter, not when summer allergies are affecting you.
One thing that cedar fever and summer allergies have in common is that they can exacerbate your asthma if you live with the condition, so it’s important to get both your summer allergies and cedar fever treated appropriately.
Whether you’re diagnosed with summer allergies, cedar fever, or both, your Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Central Texas board-certified provider can help. They may recommend:
Steering clear of allergens as much as possible involves keeping indoor air clean by closing windows and using a HEPA air filter, vacuuming frequently, taking your shoes off when you enter the house, changing your clothing if you’ve been outside, and showering before you go to bed to get pollen out of your hair.
Thinking about when you go outside can help, too. For example, going outside after it rains means there’s less pollen in the air to trigger your symptoms.
You can depend on the Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas to help you live your best life — free of allergy symptoms — no matter what season it is or what you’re allergic to.
Call our Killeen, Georgetown, or Round Rock, Texas, office to make an appointment, or use our convenient online booking tool.
