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Key Points
- Seasonal allergies, which affect about 50 million people in the U.S., can cause discomfort and health issues. The most common type of seasonal allergy, hay fever, is primarily caused by pollen and lasts from early spring through May.
- Seasonal allergies can cause symptoms ranging from a runny nose and sneezing to wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be particularly problematic for people with asthma, potentially triggering an asthma attack.
- Prevention is key in managing seasonal allergies. This can include checking daily pollen counts, keeping windows closed to avoid allergens, limiting time outdoors, and taking a shower after spending time outside to rinse off pollen.
- Urgent care centers can treat mild to moderate allergy symptoms and may offer allergy shots for longer-term solutions. However, severe asthma attacks should be treated as emergencies and require immediate medical attention.
- Some urgent care centers offer allergy tests, which can help identify the specific allergens causing symptoms. Treating common health conditions like seasonal allergies at urgent care can be a cost-effective alternative to primary care or emergency room visits.
For some people, spring is a lovely time. The frigid temperatures of winter are fading and, in their place, blooming flowers and sunshine abound. Great, right? Unless you have seasonal allergies, that is.
If pollen makes you sneeze and ragweed makes you itch, spring may not be as pleasant for you. In fact, the constant exposure to allergens may wreak havoc on your health. You’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that about 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. Researchers at The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology found that allergies are increasing and affect about 30% of adults and 40% of children. In the last year, over 8% of the U.S. population was diagnosed with hay fever (an allergy caused by pollen or dust).
As with all medical conditions, prevention is the best way to protect yourself. With 2018 allergy season already upon us, you may be wondering: can I go to urgent care for my allergies? Keep reading to find out more information about the 2018 spring allergy season, symptoms of seasonal allergies, and which allergy symptoms and reactions you can (and can’t) be treated for at urgent care.
When Does Allergy Season Start in 2018?
While there’s no official start date to allergy season (and no groundhog to alert us of its approach), you can expect to start getting hit with allergies right around February and March each year.
To be clear, the commonly used term “allergy season” is a bit misleading. In reality, allergies come in waves throughout the year, beginning in early spring and lasting until approximately November.
Note that this only applies to outdoor seasonal allergies and doesn’t factor in where you live. In 2016, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) published a report The Most Challenging Places to Live With Spring Allergies. Some areas of the country may bypass certain allergy seasons entirely, while others get hit even harder. You can use the AAFA’s report to see how challenging—or not—it is to live with seasonal allergies in your area.
What are Common Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies affect people differently. The most common type of seasonal allergy is called hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Hay fever is primarily a pollen allergy, which lasts from early spring through the month of May. However, pollen isn’t the only culprit. Throughout the year, different allergens can cause reactions in people.
- Pollen season: Late February/early March through May
- Grass season: May through July
- Mold spores and ragweed season: July through November
The only way to know exactly what you’re allergic to is to have a skin test done by your doctor or an allergist.
What are Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies?
If you have hay fever, seasonal allergy symptoms can feel a lot like symptoms of a cold. A tip for telling the difference is to note if you have a fever or body aches. Since allergies don’t cause either of these symptoms, you probably have a cold.
Seasonal allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common seasonal allergy symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Temporary loss of smell
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Snoring
- Watery and itchy eyes
- Ear congestion
- Itchy sinuses or throat
- Postnasal drainage
Less common allergy symptoms include:
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
The same allergens that trigger hay fever can also cause people with asthma to have an asthma attack. Symptoms of an asthma attack are often more severe than allergies and include:
- Severe wheezing
- Persistent coughing
- Rapid breathing
- Tight chest or pressure in the chest
- Sweating
- Difficulty talking
Since seasonal allergies are typically inhaled, they can be particularly problematic for people with asthma. If you have asthma, it’s a good idea to have a rescue inhaler ready to use during allergy season.
How to prevent and manage seasonal allergies in 2018
Unfortunately, you can’t prevent allergies. What you can do, however, is prevent allergic reactions. The more preventive steps you take, the fewer allergy symptoms you should have to deal with.
Check the daily pollen count
Pollen.com has a helpful tool that allows you to check the pollen count in your zip code. If the pollen count is high, you’ll know that you need to take extra precaution to stay indoors.
Check the air quality report for your area
When you check the pollen count, also check the air quality for your area. If the air quality is low, you’ll want to avoid being outdoors as much as possible. High levels of pollutants mixed with seasonal allergens can cause symptoms to flare up. This is something you should be especially mindful of if you have asthma.
Keep your car and home windows closed
It’s a good idea to avoid contact with allergens as much as possible. An easy way to do this is to keep the windows of your car and home closed, especially on high pollen days. The same is true if there is a lower pollen count but poor air quality.
Use the recirculate button in your car to keep allergens out
While driving, you want to make sure your car is circulating air from inside and not pulling outside air in. Every year before allergy season begins, have your car’s air filter changed. This will help keep your car (and your nose) pollen-free.
Limit your time outdoors
The less environmental exposure you have to allergens, the better off you’ll be. Even though the weather may be nicer than it has been in awhile, if you have severe allergies it’s best to stay inside.
Take a shower after spending time outside
Obviously, you can’t avoid going outside completely. If you do spend an extended period of time outdoors, take a shower as soon as you can after coming inside. If you can’t take one right away, make sure to do so before you get in bed. Rinsing pollen off your skin and hair can make a big difference in how you feel.
Can Allergy Symptoms be Treated at Urgent Care?
Going to urgent care for a non-emergency illness or injury is more convenient than going to your primary care doctor and more affordable than going to the emergency room. With spring in full swing, you may find yourself needing help managing those pesky seasonal allergies. But can you go to urgent care to be treated for allergies? The answer depends.
If your allergies are mild to moderate and are not making it difficult for you to breathe, you can go to urgent care. You’ll be examined by a physician or physician’s assistant and, more than likely, prescribed an antihistamine.
For a longer-term solution to allergies, you can get allergy shots. Allergy shots work like a vaccine by helping your body develop immunity to the allergen. Some urgent care centers do offer allergy shots but you’ll want to call ahead to make sure.
Can I go to Urgent Care for an Asthma Attack?
Since asthma attacks can range in severity, there’s no set answer to this. Generally, you can go to urgent care for any kind of health condition that is not life-threatening. This same rule applies to asthma attacks. If you’re having a severe asthma attack and need medical assistance, you should call 911. For milder asthma attacks, you can head to your local urgent care center for a walk-in visit or book a same-day appointment online.
Can I Get an Allergy Test Done at Urgent Care?
If your allergies are getting to you and you want to know exactly what’s causing the problem, you might consider going to urgent care for an allergy test. Some urgent care centers do offer allergy tests, while some don’t. It really depends on the clinic. You can call ahead to find out if any of your local urgent care centers offer this service. If they do, you can save a lot of money by having it done at urgent care, instead of your primary care doctor’s office.
Many common health conditions, including seasonal allergies, cost far less to treat at urgent care. If you need to be treated for symptoms that are not life-threatening, urgent care is a great place to be treated. You’ll save money and time — especially when you use Solv to book a same-day appointment at urgent care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical duration of allergy season?
Allergy season typically begins in early spring, around February or March, and lasts until approximately November. However, this can vary depending on where you live and what specific allergens you are sensitive to.What are some common types of seasonal allergies?
The most common type of seasonal allergy is hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, which is primarily a pollen allergy. Other common allergens include grass, mold spores, and ragweed, which each have their own seasons throughout the year.How can I tell if my symptoms are due to allergies or a cold?
Symptoms of seasonal allergies can often feel similar to those of a cold. However, allergies do not cause fever or body aches. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is more likely that you have a cold.What are some common symptoms of seasonal allergies?
Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, temporary loss of smell, headache, fatigue, sore throat, coughing, snoring, watery or itchy eyes, ear congestion, and postnasal drainage.How can I prevent allergic reactions?
While you can't prevent allergies themselves, you can take steps to prevent allergic reactions. These include checking the daily pollen count and air quality in your area, keeping your car and home windows closed, using the recirculate button in your car, limiting your time outdoors, and showering after spending time outside.Can I go to urgent care for treatment of my allergies?
Yes, if your allergies are mild to moderate and are not causing difficulty breathing, you can go to urgent care. There, you will likely be prescribed an antihistamine. Some urgent care centers also offer allergy shots.Can I go to urgent care for an asthma attack?
The answer depends on the severity of the asthma attack. For milder attacks, you can go to urgent care. However, for severe attacks, you should call 911.Can I get an allergy test done at urgent care?
Some urgent care centers do offer allergy tests, but not all. It's best to call ahead to find out if this service is available at your local urgent care center.
