Three timelines with a similar starting symptom
Each person below has a stuffy nose. These fictional timelines show what is worth describing in a consultation.
Timing helps a clinician understand the story. It can’t show what caused the symptoms. A person can have an allergy pattern and also develop sinus symptoms during a cold. A regional pollen forecast gives useful context for the first timeline if available. It cannot tell you what that person breathed. AAAAI comparison of colds, allergies and sinusitis
| Timeline | What the person noticed | What to take to the visit |
|---|---|---|
| A recurring pattern around an exposure | Wednesday, sneezed and developed itchy eyes while mowing. Felt better later indoors. Similar symptoms after time on the grass the following Saturday. | Two dates, time outdoors, what felt itchy, and whether symptoms eased after going indoors |
| A change during a cold | Monday, sore throat and runny nose. Later in the week, stuffiness continued and cheek pressure and reduced smell became noticeable. | When the cold began, when the new symptoms started, and whether there was any improvement |
| A pattern that overlaps | Blocked nose most days for several weeks. Itchy eyes on two outdoor days. Cheek pressure one evening, with no note about what happened first. | The usual baseline, the dates of the itchy eyes and pressure, and the gap in the record |
Make a five-field note
1. Start. Write when you first noticed the change. An approximate date is fine. If you already had some blockage before that day, put your usual symptoms on a separate line.
2. Sequence. Write what came first and what appeared later. Separate a newly blocked nose from a new pressure sensation in a nose that’s often blocked.
3. Context. Note a recent cold, where you were or a specific exposure you remember. A phrase such as “cleaned the spare room” is useful even if you have no idea whether it mattered.
4. Clear days and gaps. Say when you felt better, whether symptoms fully cleared, and when you simply didn’t check. If the dates are fuzzy, write “cleared sometime before Monday” or “uncertain”.
5. Impact and next question. Note what was harder than usual, such as sleeping through the night, and write one question you’d like help answering.
Where to put pollen and routine notes
Keep pollen, products you used and changes in your environment beside the dates they belong to. If a day felt better after several things changed, write them down in the order you remember. You can bring that sequence to a pharmacist or clinician. The pollen symptom diary has fields for region, provider and time outdoors.
AirBloom is being built to put daily symptom entries and available local conditions in one view. That gives you one place to find the days you want to talk through, while keeping your observations separate from the forecast.
When to ask for help
Ask a pharmacist or GP if you’re unsure what’s causing recurring symptoms or if they regularly affect sleep or everyday life. Seek advice sooner if sinus symptoms worsen or you feel very unwell. The NHS sinusitis guide and NHS allergic rhinitis guide explain when to get help. If you’ve already got dated entries, bring a one-page summary.
Sources: NHS allergic rhinitis; NHS sinusitis
Sources & further reading
This guide provides general education, not individual medical advice. It has not been clinically reviewed. Talk to a qualified clinician about persistent, new or worsening symptoms. Follow your local emergency guidance for urgent concerns.
Spotted an error? Tell the editorial team.
Your story, together.
AirBloom is in development for iOS and Android, bringing symptom records and existing routines into one place. Join the early-access waitlist.