5 expert ways to prepare for a longer fall allergy season

If you think it's too early to prepare for fall allergy season, think again. Thanks to changing weather patterns, allergy season is starting earlier and lasting longer than ever before. For the 31.8% of adults and 27.2% of children in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, their symptoms may persist long after kids are back in school.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American frost-free season — the period between the final 32°F reading of the year in the spring and the first 32°F reading in the fall — has increased by more than two weeks on average across the country. "The prolonged warm weather means that plants bloom earlier, stay around longer and produce more pollen, causing sneezing, coughing, itchy and watery eyes and runny noses and triggering asthma attacks and hay fever," says allergist James Tracy, DO, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

One allergy-causing plant that thrives in the increasingly warm climate is ragweed, one of the most common environmental allergens according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Traditionally, ragweed blooms in late summer and early fall, usually ending a couple of weeks after the first frost. However, summerlike weather is lingering longer and longer, causing ragweed season to lengthen.

While you can't control the weather, you can take steps to manage your allergy symptoms. If you want to get ahead of fall allergies so you and your family can breathe easier, check the following five tips from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).

1. Avoid allergy triggers

During the fall, try to avoid allergy triggers. Keep an eye on daily pollen counts and stay inside as much as possible during high pollen count days. Also, try to avoid going out in the morning, when ragweed pollen is at its highest during the fall. Keep doors and windows closed so pollen doesn't get indoors.

2. Change clothing

To ensure you're not tracking pollen into your home, change out of clothing you've worn outdoors. As soon as you get home, remove your shoes at the door, put your clothing in the washer and take a shower, paying special attention to your hair where pollen can linger.

Pro tip: Wear a hat and sunglasses to prevent pollen from getting in your eyes and wear a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask when mowing the lawn or doing other chores outdoors. Make sure to remove these items as well when you come indoors.

3. Start taking allergy medication now

Don't wait until fall arrives to start taking your allergy medication. Whether you're taking over-the-counter or prescription medications to treat your allergy symptoms, start taking them two weeks or so before your symptoms usually begin.

Continue your medication for two weeks after the first hard frost. Both nasal and eye symptoms associated with ragweed allergies can linger after pollen is no longer in the air.

4. Consider immunotherapy

For long-term treatment of severe or chronic allergies, consider immunotherapy with either shots or tablets. Immunotherapy is extremely effective for treating pollen allergies and can help with asthma. Unlike medications that treat allergy symptoms, immunotherapy works similarly to vaccines, desensitizing your immune system to allergens over time.

5. Visit your allergist

Make an appointment to see your board-certified allergist. This is especially important if the intensity of your symptoms has changed or if you've developed new ones since your last visit. Ask your allergist about getting tested for asthma if you're coughing or wheezing more than in the past.

If you've never seen an allergist, it may be time to schedule a visit. Board-certified allergists are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat your allergies and asthma. They can offer you options for treatment you may not have considered (like immunotherapy) and work with you to create an individual action plan. To find an allergist near you, visit ACAAI.org/Find-An-Allergist.

Don't let fall allergies catch you unaware. Using these five tips, you can get ahead of ragweed and other fall allergens so you can enjoy the season with minimal sneezing and wheezing.