If your recent Google searches look something like this:
“Why do my allergies get worse in September?”
“Can allergies make me tired?”
“Why am I coughing every morning?”
Your symptoms may be telling you something.
For many people in North Texas, September doesn’t bring the end of allergy season. In fact, September allergies in DFW can be particularly frustrating as summer transitions toward fall and a different group of outdoor allergens becomes more prominent.
Sneezing, congestion, itchy or watery eyes and drainage may be easy to recognize as allergy symptoms. But allergies can sometimes show up in less obvious ways, too. Persistent fatigue, disrupted sleep, coughing, throat irritation and worsening respiratory symptoms may all be reasons to talk with a healthcare provider.
At AIR Care, MD, our allergy, immunology and respiratory specialists in Dallas and Plano help patients move beyond repeatedly treating symptoms and work toward understanding what may be triggering them.
So, let’s answer some of those September allergy questions you may already be typing into Google.
Why Do My Allergies Get Worse in September?
When people think about seasonal allergies, spring often gets most of the attention.
But in North Texas, allergy season doesn’t necessarily follow the traditional four-season calendar.
September marks an important transition in the outdoor environment. As different plants pollinate and weather conditions change, people who felt relatively well earlier in the summer may notice that their symptoms suddenly return or intensify.
One of the best-known fall allergy triggers is ragweed pollen.
Ragweed typically pollinates during the late summer and fall. Its lightweight pollen can become airborne, which means you don’t necessarily need to have ragweed growing in your own yard to experience symptoms.
For someone with a ragweed allergy, exposure may contribute to symptoms such as:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy nose or throat
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Postnasal drainage
- Coughing
- Sleep disruption
Other environmental allergens can also be present during this time of year, so determining exactly what is triggering your symptoms isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
That’s one reason allergy testing can be valuable.
Can Allergies Make You Tired?
Yes, allergy symptoms and fatigue can occur together.
It’s easy to think of allergies as simply a runny nose and a lot of sneezing, but persistent allergy symptoms may interfere with how you feel throughout the day.
Consider what happens when you’re congested at night.
If nasal symptoms interfere with comfortable sleep, you may wake up feeling like you haven’t rested well. Persistent symptoms can also make everyday activities feel more exhausting.
Some people may find themselves searching:
“Why am I tired all the time during allergy season?”
The better question may be:
“Are my allergy symptoms affecting my quality of sleep and how I feel during the day?”
If fatigue seems to appear alongside congestion, sneezing, drainage or other recurring allergy symptoms, it’s worth discussing the complete picture with your healthcare provider rather than evaluating each symptom in isolation.
Why Am I Coughing Every Morning?
A recurring morning cough can have many possible causes, and a persistent cough should not automatically be assumed to be allergies.
However, allergy and respiratory conditions are among the possibilities a healthcare provider may consider.
For example, nasal drainage can irritate the throat and contribute to coughing. Asthma and other respiratory conditions can also cause coughing, sometimes without the symptoms people traditionally associate with asthma.
This is particularly important if your cough is accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty exercising
- Nighttime coughing
- Recurring coughing episodes
- Symptoms that consistently appear around particular environmental triggers
Rather than repeatedly searching “Why am I coughing every morning?”, consider talking with a medical provider if the symptom is persistent, worsening or concerning.
A proper evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to the cough and whether additional testing is appropriate.
Could It Be Allergies—or Am I Getting Sick?
September also coincides with another major transition for families in Dallas-Fort Worth: back-to-school season.
Once students return to classrooms, parents may find themselves trying to determine whether a runny nose, cough or congestion is caused by allergies or an illness.
There can be overlap.
Allergies commonly cause symptoms such as sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, nasal congestion and clear drainage. Viral illnesses can also cause nasal and respiratory symptoms but may be accompanied by other symptoms.
Instead of relying solely on one symptom to determine what’s happening, pay attention to the pattern.
Do symptoms happen every September?
Do they become worse after outdoor activities?
Are itchy eyes and repetitive sneezing part of the picture?
Do symptoms improve and then return when you’re outside?
Patterns like these can provide useful information to discuss with an allergy specialist.
September Allergies and Asthma in DFW
Allergy season can be particularly important for people who also have asthma.
Environmental allergens may trigger respiratory symptoms in some patients with allergic asthma. September also brings football, soccer, cross-country, marching band and other outdoor activities back into full swing across North Texas.
If a child, teenager or adult consistently coughs during or after exercise, experiences chest tightness, has difficulty keeping up with peers or frequently needs to stop because they cannot catch their breath, those symptoms deserve attention.
Asthma management isn’t simply about responding to an asthma attack.
The goal is to understand symptoms, recognize potential triggers and develop an appropriate treatment strategy with your healthcare provider.
When Should You See an Allergist?
Occasional sneezing doesn’t necessarily mean you need an allergy specialist.
But recurring symptoms that affect sleep, school, work, exercise or everyday activities may warrant further evaluation.
Consider making an appointment if you are experiencing:
- Persistent nasal congestion
- Frequent sneezing
- Recurring itchy or watery eyes
- Ongoing postnasal drainage
- Seasonal symptoms that return every year
- Symptoms that aren’t adequately controlled with your current treatment
- Recurrent coughing
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Difficulty exercising because of respiratory symptoms
- Allergy symptoms that interfere with sleep
- Questions about possible environmental triggers
You don’t have to wait until symptoms become unbearable to ask for help.
What Happens During Allergy Testing?
For patients with recurring symptoms, allergy testing may help identify specific environmental allergens that could be contributing to their symptoms.
Your AIR Care provider will first evaluate your medical history and symptoms to determine what testing, if any, is appropriate.
Depending on the individual patient, an allergy evaluation may include testing for common environmental allergens.
The goal isn’t simply to produce a list of things you’re allergic to.
Understanding your triggers can help your provider develop a more individualized strategy for reducing exposure and managing symptoms.
That’s an important distinction between continually treating symptoms and developing a longer-term allergy management plan.
Don’t Just Treat the Season. Identify the Trigger.
Living in North Texas can sometimes make allergies feel like an unavoidable part of life.
But being a Texan doesn’t mean you simply have to accept months of congestion, coughing, sneezing or feeling exhausted.
If every September brings another round of the same Google searches, it may be time to stop asking the internet and start asking an allergy specialist.
You’ve got questions. Our specialists have answers.
AIR Care, MD provides individualized allergy, immunology and respiratory care for patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with convenient locations in Dallas and Plano, Texas.
Whether you’re dealing with seasonal allergies, unexplained respiratory symptoms, asthma or questions about allergy testing, our team can help you determine an appropriate next step.
Schedule an Appointment with AIR Care, MD
AIR Care, MD is currently accepting new patients.
If fall allergies are already making their presence known—or you’ve been wondering whether your recurring symptoms could be related to allergies or asthma—September is a great time to start looking for answers.
Dallas: 214-373-1773
Plano: 972-473-7544
Call AIR Care, MD today to schedule a new patient appointment.