How El Paso’s fall weather can be worsening your allergies

If you've been feeling under the weather but can't tell what it is, there might be a culprit — fall allergies.

The wind and rain this season moves soil along with dust and allergens, and UMC El Paso says it's triggering people's allergies which of course can be irritating.

That can include ragweed, pigweed, sagebush, and tumbleweeds which carry dust, pollen and allergens.

UMC says they trigger irritation in the nasal passages, causing a runny nose or sneezing, or more severe symptoms like nasal congestion and throat irritation from post-nasal drip.

Family medicine physician Dr. Kristie Benejan at UMC says that can be dangerous for those with asthma, leading to suppressed cough and wheezing.

So before you go to a doctor, here's how to tell if they're just allergies or a more complex illness.

"It does get really hard, viral illnesses are usually more associated with feeling a little bit fatigued, run down," says Benejan. "You also will see more of the cough, sore throat. Also, if you were around someone that had similar symptoms, it could be related to something more contagious rather than just allergies alone."

If you're already under a treatment and it doesn't feel like enough or you can't take any, Benejan recommends:

• Making sure your air filters are cleaned as they trap allergens
• Showering more if you're spending a lot of time outside — you carry those allergens with you on your clothes and body
• Over-the-counter nasal saline or nasal spray to rinse out the nasal passages

"The recommendation is to start their allergy treatments that they're already been prescribed by their primary care doctor," says Benejan. "There are some other over-the-counter options, antihistamines that can be options for some people."