Seasonal allergy and symptoms.

Abstract

Seasonal allergies, often triggered by environmental factors such as pollen, significantly affect individuals’ quality of life and can affect athletic performance. This review summarizes findings from four observational studies on seasonal allergies, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Komarow and Postolache (2005) examined the impact of seasonal allergies on athletic performance, noting symptoms like nasal congestion, dyspnea, and fatigue but lacking quantitative experimental data. Vigo et al. (2017) used a mobile app in the UK to collect large-scale data on allergy symptoms, revealing correlations between allergy symptoms and overall wellness, yet faced limitations in geographic and demographic diversity. McKee (2005) explored the familial occurrence of seasonal allergies, linking genetic factors with a higher prevalence of allergic symptoms, though this study was limited by geography and an adult population sample. Myszkowska et al. (2002) focused on the relationship between pollen, fungal spores, and allergy symptoms in Cracow, finding correlations with specific pollen types but limited by a small clinical sample size.Overall, the studies confirm an association between seasonal allergies and environmental, genetic, and symptomatic factors, though causative conclusions remain unsupported. Limitations in each study, including small sample sizes, limited geographic scope, and short study durations, underline the challenges in allergy research. Future studies may benefit from integrating diverse data sources and using longitudinal designs to improve the reliability of findings on seasonal allergy causation and management.