A guide to fall allergies: What causes them, symptoms and how to get relief

It’s the season for pumpkins, changing leaves, hot drinks — and fall allergies.As fall brings dropping temperatures and falling leaves, millions are reaching for extra tissues — but not because of a common cold.Rather, seasonal allergies, or hay fever, are kicking in, bringing watery eyes, runny noses and other symptoms that resemble the flu.Instead of pollen from blooming flowers and trees that marks the onset of spring, fall allergies — also called allergic rhinitis — are most often caused by ragweed pollen, a fern-like plant that’s especially prevalent on the East Coast.And if temperatures are warmer than normal, you could be dealing with both ragweed pollen and grass pollen, which can make allergies worse, according to the Cleveland Clinic.Mold spores from decaying wet leaves are another common fall allergen, getting into the air when they’re stepped on and traveling into airways.Many of the major symptoms of fall allergies are the same as those in springtime, including nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, a cough and postnasal drainage.While these are similar to the signs of a cold, a respiratory infection from a cold or the flu can also make it hard to breathe and cause fatigue, mild body aches, nausea, vomiting, fever or chills.Despite the number of leaves falling from the trees or ragweed floating through the air, there are ways to prevent and manage fall allergies, many of which are also similar to warmer seasonal allergens.Getting tested for allergies can help identify what specifically triggers symptoms, whether pollen, dust, mold or something else.From there, you can reduce irritants by removing wet leaves from the yard, minimizing dust and pet hair by vacuuming and using an air purifier.It’s also recommended to change your clothes and take a shower when you get home to remove pollen.Rather than waiting until you’re already suffering from allergy symptoms, start any treatment regimens before the season and continue...