Still, allergic disease can return or even have its initial onset later in life. Despite this, there is a tendency for many allergies to become less severe in people after age 40 and more severe after age 60. With immunotherapy treatment, you receive increasingly higher doses of your allergens over time, gradually becoming less sensitive to them. Allergy shots have been proven effective for symptoms caused by grass, tree and weed pollens, dust mites, cat dander, certain molds and stinging insects. Allergy shots may have a lasting effect after they are stopped, whereas medications do not.
Many plants cause allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Ragweed is one of the chief culprits since it is a prevalent weed in most parts of North America. If you are allergic to ragweed, your symptoms will appear in late summer or early fall when ragweed plants pollinate. You may experience itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. People with greater sensitivity may have wheezing, coughing, sinus headaches or asthma attacks. Allergy testing will give you a definite diagnosis.