Seasonal allergies affect tens of millions of Americans each year while food allergies affect many more. In many areas of the United States, allergies begin in spring and last until the early summer. Mild winter temperatures can cause plants to pollinate early. A rainy spring can also promote rapid plant growth and lead to an increase in mold causing symptoms to last well into the fall.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, medical research has supported the close relationship between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. In a retrospective study on sinus abnormalities in 1,120 patients (from 2 to 87 years of age), thickening of the sinus mucosa was more commonly found in sinusitis patients during July, August, September, and December, months in which pollen, mold, and viral epidemics are prominent. A review of patients (from 4 to 83 years of age) who had surgery to treat their chronic sinus conditions revealed that those with seasonal allergy and nasal polyps are more likely to experience a recurrence of their sinusitis.
Over-the-counter medications available today to address the symptoms of rhinitis, sinusitis, and other allergies often come with surprising side effects that range from unpleasant to unhealthy. While the timing and severity of allergy season varies across the country, most practitioners of complementary medicine will have patients coming to them for relief.