SE Valley Times

• Fall allergies typically begin in August and can last through October.

• To diagnose allergies, doctors may recommend either a blood test or a skin test.

• Some treatment options include over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays and immunotherapy.

Dr. Brian Lee | Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center

People who suffer from seasonal allergies typically start to feel the effects of fall allergy triggers in August, as ragweed begins to release pollen, according to WebMD. These symptoms can last through September and October as well. The wind can carry ragweed pollen for hundreds of miles, so people who don't live where ragweed grows can still be affected.

Another common fall allergy trigger is mold, which can grow in piles of damp leaves. Seasonal allergy sufferers may also be affected by dust mites, which can stir as people begin to turn on the heat in their homes in the fall. Dust mites are also common in schools, and they can affect students returning to their classrooms. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes and noses.

To diagnose allergies, doctors review the patient's symptoms and medical history, and they may recommend either a blood test or a skin test, according to WebMD. For a skin test, the doctor will place a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear.

Depending on the type and severity of your allergies, your doctor could recommend various treatment options, according to Mayo Clinic. Some treatments options are over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays, immunotherapy, or, for very severe allergies, carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen.

"Allergy shots are very effective. It is once a week that the patient has to come into the office, so it can be pretty cumbersome and intrusive into daily life," Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center told SE Valley Times. "We offer what we call sublingual immunotherapy, which is essentially the same principle, meaning that we tested for allergies, we figure out what you're allergic to and we make a special, customized serum of that stuff. Then we start feeding your body small amounts of it.

"Traditionally, you had to come into the office once a week for a shot," Lee said. "But now we can actually do those in the form of a drop that you put under your tongue. You do those at home every day. And we're able to allow you to do that at home because they're extremely safe. The risk of an anaphylactic reaction is essentially zero. So you get the same benefits but without all the hassles of having to come in for a shot every week."

Readers experiencing seasonal allergies or sinus symptoms are invited to take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.