Living with seasonal allergies as an older adult

By Gabbi Di Marino, content manager and fellow allergy sufferer

There’s a common misconception that seasonal allergies only strike when you’re a child, and if they didn’t develop in your youth, then you’re safe from ever suffering from hay fever later on down the line. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. 

Adult on-set seasonal allergies are a real and debilitating condition, especially for seniors. It’s estimated that around 35% of older adults, those aged 65+, suffer from the nagging, day-ruining symptoms that hay fever is infamous for. Research shows that physiological changes that happen in our noses as we get older are a part of the problem. These changes increase the risks for autoimmune diseases, infections, and allergic reactions.

Complications for older adults with hay fever

Although seasonal allergies aren’t a life-threatening problem for the majority of people, older adults with pre-existing conditions like lung or heart disease are significantly more at risk for serious complications arising from their symptoms. Things like nasal congestion, itchy throat, and a cough can turn into something much more major. 

And there’s another problem. The most common treatment of Hay Fever, OTC antihistamines, are not recommended for the elderly. Why? Well, over 40% of those aged 65 and over take 5 or more medications on a daily basis to balance their health. Because of this, OTC antihistamines can have very negative reactions to their meds and cause serious, adverse reactions. Chemicals like diphenhydramine (dai·fuhn·hai·druh·meen) and chlorpheniramine (klor·fuh·nee·ruh·meen), which are commonly used in OTC antihistamines, can cause side effects like anxiety, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, urine retention, dry mouth and eyes, and even drastic negative effects to mood and behavior.

Ways to get relief

Spending time outside in the sun and fresh air is very important for both the physical and mental health of older adults - avoiding the outdoors entirely just isn’t an option. And until we at Fluo Labs release our ground-breaking device in early 2022, here are a few different ways to get relief in the meantime!

To ensure seasonal allergy symptoms don’t get the best of you, one way to give your nose a break would be to monitor pollen levels in the air. When they’re at their highest, you should avoid outdoor activities, but if you must go out, there’s things you can do to minimize irritation, things like wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes, washing hands when coming back indoors, and changing clothes to make sure you aren’t carrying pollen around with you. Doctors also recommend drug-free alternatives, like saline nasal sprays to wash out the nose without having to worry about potentially dangerous side-effects. 

Adult on-set allergies are a real and potentially debilitating condition. If you or a loved one is suffering from hay fever, make sure to tackle the problem head on and not let it get worse. You can gain a bit more information at this site !