Weather changes do not cause allergies. However, people may experience allergies when the seasons change for other reasons, such as an increase in pollen or mold in the air.
Alternatively, a person may not have an allergy at all. Nonallergic rhinitis is a condition that causes nasal irritation and a runny nose. It can occur when there are changes in temperature or humidity.
Despite the similarities, nonallergic rhinitis is not an allergy. Scientists are
This article explores how weather changes could cause allergies or allergy-like symptoms and how to tell the difference.
People cannot be allergic to weather changes, such as changes in temperature or humidity. But as the weather changes, so can levels of allergens in the environment, such as pollen or mold.
When seasons get warmer, plants such as grass release more pollen into the air. In spring or fall, damp weather can cause leaves and vegetation to rot, releasing mold spores.
For people with allergies or allergic rhinitis, these seasonal changes may result in increased allergen exposure, resulting in more symptoms.
However, another possibility is nonallergic rhinitis. This condition can appear similar to allergic rhinitis, but it is not the same condition.
- temperature
- humidity
- barometric pressure
Other common triggers for nonallergic rhinitis include:
- alcohol consumption
- spicy food
- strong odors, such as those in perfume or cleaning products
- tobacco smoke
The symptoms of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are similar. Some common symptoms of allergic rhinitis
- sneezing
- runny or stuffy nose
- itchy or watery eyes
- itchy throat or ears
People may also experience coughing and fatigue due to the inflammation and irritation of the nasal passages.
In contrast, nonallergic rhinitis does not usually cause itchiness, although it can occur. Other symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis include:
- a runny or blocked nose
- sneezing
- crusts inside the nose, which may smell unpleasant or cause bleeding when a person removes them
- reduced sense of smell
For those with allergic rhinitis, exposure to seasonal allergens can cause symptoms to get worse at certain times of the year. In many parts of the United States, the seasonal triggers are as follows:
- Spring: Tree pollen is the earliest type of pollen to begin entering the air. It can begin causing symptoms as early as January in the Southern states. Further north, tree pollen season is usually March to May.
- Summer: Grass pollen is the dominant allergen in the summer, although in the South, grass may release pollen year-round. Certain grass types, such as Bermuda, Timothy, and Kentucky Bluegrass, are significant contributors.
- Fall: Weed pollen often begins to cause symptoms from late summer to fall. Ragweed is the weed most people have an allergy to, but other potential allergens include sagebrush, pigweed, and tumbleweed.
Other allergens that can be seasonal, depending on where a person lives, include:
- Mold: Mold helps fallen leaves and vegetation break down, but some people are allergic to the spores this process releases into the air. In some areas, damp weather in spring or fall may increase mold growth. People who experience mold growth in their homes may also notice a seasonal pattern.
- Dust mites: While people with dust mite allergies can experience symptoms at any time of year, certain seasonal practices may be more likely to disturb their droppings, which are what cause allergy symptoms. For example, using central heating in winter can create air currents that
may blow fallen allergens back into the air.
Learn more about this with our seasonal allergies calendar.
For those with nonallergic rhinitis, certain weather and environmental changes may cause symptoms, such as:
- Temperature: Rapid temperature changes, such as moving from warm indoor air to cold outdoor air, may trigger symptoms.
- Humidity: High or low humidity, or changes in humidity, may trigger a runny or blocked nose.
- Barometric pressure: Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure can occur due to incoming or outgoing weather fronts, such as heatwaves or storms.
- Wind: High winds may dry out or irritate the inside of the nose, triggering symptoms.
- Cold air: Exposure to cold air can cause the nasal passages to react, leading to a runny or stuffy nose.
It is not always possible for people to tell allergies from nonallergic rhinitis. Because the symptoms are similar and both can have a seasonal pattern, they can be confused with one another.
For example, if a person has more symptoms in the summer, doctors
Doctors can rule out allergies by performing allergy testing. This involves a skin prick or blood test, which can help identify if the immune system reacts to common allergens or not.
Another potential method people can use is symptom tracking. By keeping a diary, people can record when symptoms occur and any triggers that may have caused it, taking note of what they were doing and the weather.
Over time, a diary may be useful for observing patterns.
Management approaches for allergic rhinitis
- Avoidance: Limiting exposure to known allergens, where possible, may help. For example, people can stay indoors, use air purifiers, and keep windows closed on days when the pollen count is high.
- Medications: Over-the-counter antihistamines can relieve allergy symptoms. Decongestants can also reduce nasal congestion, while nasal corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in the nasal passages.
- Allergy shots: Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, may provide long-term relief by gradually desensitizing the immune system to specific allergens.
The following treatment and management strategies for nonallergic rhinitis may help
- Lifestyle adjustments: Maintaining a stable indoor environment as much as possible may help reduce flare-ups. This could involve keeping the home at a consistent temperature or humidity level and avoiding other triggers, such as perfume or cigarette smoke.
- Nasal saline: Saline spray can wash away mucus inside the nose and prevent crusts from forming. If crusts do form, saline spray may help soften them.
- Medications: Doctors may recommend treating the main symptom with medications. Nasal corticosteroids can reduce inflammation, while anticholinergic nasal sprays can reduce nasal secretions and alleviate runny nose symptoms. People who experience itchiness or sneezing may benefit from antihistamines, but they may not help everyone.
In severe cases, doctors may suggest surgery for nonallergic rhinitis to either reduce swelling in the nose or to reduce nerve activity.
Weather changes cannot cause allergies, but indirectly, they may lead to more pollen, mold, or dust mite exposure. For people with allergies to these substances, changes in seasons may appear to trigger symptoms.
Alternatively, people who have allergy-like symptoms in reaction to weather changes such as wind or cold air may have nonallergic rhinitis. This is not an allergy but instead occurs when the nasal lining does not function as it should.
Identifying the type of rhinitis a person has is important because the treatments for allergies may not work for nonallergic rhinitis. People with persistent symptoms can speak with a doctor for a diagnosis, testing, and a targeted treatment plan.