Warmer spring to trigger longer allergy season
FILE-A man manages his allergies at a park with pollen. (Photo by Fairfax Media via Getty Images)
Spring officially starts on March 20 and the season not only brings warmer and comfortable temperatures but increased levels of pollen that can affect your allergies.
One of the most common types of pollen that may cause sneezing and sniffles in the spring is tree pollen, which can reach peak levels from March through May, while grass pollen starts in May and ends in June.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that pollen can trigger different reactions in people, like symptoms of allergic rhinitis or hay fever, which affects about 60 million people in the U.S. annually.
What are seasonal allergies?
Why you should care:
Seasonal allergies also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, are an immune system overreaction to airborne allergens that are present during specific times of the year. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, and coughing.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 80 million Americans deal with itchy eyes, runny nose and other symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Which pollens can trigger allergies?
Dig deeper:
Three types of pollen can cause seasonal allergies. Tree pollen pops up in early spring, grasses pollinate, and weeds appear late in the summer and early fall.
The most common tree pollens causing allergies include birch, cedar, cottonwood, maple, elm, oak, and walnut, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Grasses causing these symptoms include Bermuda, Johnson, rye, and Kentucky bluegrass.
How can I lower my allergy exposure?
Local perspective:
According to Yale Medicine, it’s ideal to pay attention to daily pollen and mold spore levels, so you can avoid outdoor activities as much as possible when pollen counts are high. You can find more information from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology’s allergen tracker.
You can take medications before the start of the allergy season—when pollen, grass, ragweed, or mold counts increase.
It’s important to close the windows and doors in your home, office, and car to keep pollen out of the space.
Yale Medicine noted on their website that wearing a hat outdoors or washing your hair before going to bed can help keep pollen off your pillow and away from your face.
Lastly, you can change your clothes after spending time outdoors to lower your exposure to pollen.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and Yale Medicine. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.