Pollution And The Pollen Belt
Pollution is also bad for allergies, and living in big cities can be draining on people who suffer from allergies.
Pollution, as it releases carbon dioxide, feeds the plants, and, in turn, creates more pollen, Hwang said.
As government seems to be cutting back on some of the air quality control and efforts of the past, what we are going to see is more air pollution, said New York-based allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett.
In his book titled The New Allergy Solution, Bassett said he refers to the South, which is often nicknamed the Bible Belt, as the Pollen Belt.
When pollen interacts with some air pollutants, he said, it causes the pollen grains to split or explode, making it easier for the particles to get into your eyes, ears and nose.
In an area where you have warm temperatures, pollution and pollen, thats what we call that triple whammy, Bassett said.
How To Know If Mold Is Causing Your Symptoms
Molds are fungi whose spores float through the air we all breathe. However, only some people will react when exposed to specific mold spores. The most common allergy-causing molds include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. The best way to know if mold is causing your symptoms is with an allergy skin test.
How Do You Test For Allergies
Allergy tests, combined with the knowledge of your allergy specialist to interpret them, can give precise information as to what you are or are not allergic to. Testing done by an allergist is safe and effective for adults and children of all ages. Your allergist will use one, or both, of these tests to confirm your diagnosis:
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When Is Allergy Season Dont Be Silly
In the south, we tend to think of allergy season as the early spring when we see the heavy yellow pollen on our cars, well basically on everything. The crazy thing about this pollen is that very few people are allergic to this yellow pine pollen. It is the tree pollens we cant easily see that give us the most outdoor allergy problems. Of course there are indoor allergens that can be just as bad for some people. The indoor allergens are a problem year round, with most common ones being dust mites, pet dander, mold and mildew.
What can you do to help with indoor allergens? Well, for dust mites which typically are found in carpets, bedding and upholstered furniture you need to use High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. These help eliminate dust and other allergens, including pollen in your home. You should also dust with a damp cloth weekly, wash all bedding weekly and vacuum carpets often.
Pet dander is another common indoor allergen that bothers a lot of people. What can you do if you love cats and dogs but are allergic? Try to keep them off upholstered furniture and carpets and out of the bedroom because their dander, or dead skin flakes will remain in the carpet and furniture. Bathe pets frequently to wash away dander as well as any pollen that may be in their fur. You should also have your carpets steam cleaned often.
Pollen Count In Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta hasn’t experienced a day higher than 846 pollen per cubic meter in 2022, according to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma’s certified pollen counting station. The 2022 peak may be yet to come.
Atlanta closed out March 2021 with eight consecutive days in which the pollen count was at least 1,592. That continued in April 2021, when 11 of 30 days recorded pollen counts of at least 1,522 per cubic meter and 15 days of at least 111 particles per cubic meter.
Rain can keep pollen counts down. Metro Atlanta has experienced higher than average rainfall totals so far this year. There could be more on the way in the middle of the work week that begins on March 21.
It may only require a few days of dry, warm weather for things to rapidly change.
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Where Does The Pollen Come From
Hwang said most of the pollen usually comes from hardwood trees. Atlanta Allergy and Asthma mentions oaks, willows, pines, sycamores, willows, beeches, grass and weeds.
Hwang said pine pollen is actually more of an irritant than an allergen.
is a very large pollen, she said. And when theyre that large, they tend to not cause an immunologic response, and they cause more of an irritant response. And so, patients may think they may be allergic to all these other allergens, but they may just be having an irritant response.
What Is A Pollen Allergy
A pollen allergy is usually calledhay fever, medically known as allergic rhinitis. Those who suffer from the affliction, also called seasonalallergies, often are sensitive to other allergens, such as dust mites, feathers, animal dander, and mold. Symptoms specific to a pollen allergy are a runny and irritated nose itchy eyes, ears, and mouth sneezing coughing wheezing swelling around the eyes and sinus infections.
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Ways To Prevent Allergy Symptoms
One way to prevent allergens indoors is by keeping windows shut.
Showering daily, particularly at night, can help wash pollen off the body.
Both oral and inter-nasal medications and antihistamines are commonly available. For severe allergies, shots can provide significant relief.
“Knowing what you’re allergic to is important because there are studies that if we take the medication ahead of time when we know we typically get pollen counts, we can actually stop this immunological cascade from occurring,” Caucino said.
Dr. Rachel L. Hailey with HCA Midwest Health said housekeeping can help you avoid triggers and ease some symptoms.
FOX Weather contributed to this report.
The Northeast And Southeast Will Experience More Pollen Production While Allergy Season In The Pacific Northwest Could Start A Month Earlier
If you head to Georgia, you will find sprawling southern live oak trees older than the Declaration of Independence. Often adorned in Spanish moss, the evergreen mammoths are featured in postcards and movies as a symbol of the South.
Of course, you may not notice the impressive attributes of Georgias state tree through the bouts of sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes they also famously cause with their pollen.
Patients, sometimes when they have significant allergies to the pollen, tell me that they just cant function. They feel run down. They dont have the energy they used to have, said Stanley Fineman, a physician at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, one of the largest allergy practices in Georgia.
The problem has only worsened. In Finemans four decades of private practice, he has seen pollen season start earlier and become more intense. Years ago, he used to tell patients to take their allergy medicine from St. Patricks Day through Memorial Day. In recent years, he now tells them to start their medication around Valentines Day and continue through the summer. This year, pollen counts were high on Feb. 14 in the Atlanta region, at 846 pollen grains per cubic meter of air.
Unfortunately, neither the oak tree nor Atlanta is unique. The culprit? Climate change.
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Why Is Pollen So Bad In Atlanta
First, we have longer allergy seasons in the South, so theres more exposure to pollen. Secondly, Georgia has warmer winters, so plants dont die or become dormant. That increases our exposure as well. In addition, people who live in areas with shorter seasons may only be exposed to the first phase of pollen.
Living With Ragweed Allergy
Living with ragweed in Atlanta is no easy task. Ragweed allergy has no cure, but there are measures you can take to minimize flareups. The AAFA recommends staying abreast of pollen counts in your area via your local news media or by calling the National Allergy Bureau at 1-800-9-POLLEN. When pollen counts are high, stay indoors with central air conditioning with a HEPA filter attachment.
You could consider relocating to get away from ragweed and get some relief, but there is no guarantee you will not develop an allergy to weeds or flowers in your new location as well. Relocation is not always an option for other reasons.
Antihistamines can relieve the runny nose and sneezing associated with ragweed allergies, and the newer antihistamines on the market do not cause drowsiness. Decongestants are very effective for relief from nasal congestion.
Another option is allergy shots if medication is ineffective. For allergy shots to work, the type of allergy must be accurately identified. It is a very good idea to check with your doctor if seasonal allergies become a problem it can affect your quality of life.
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How Do Allergies Develop
Allergies have a strong genetic component. If you have allergies, others in your family are likely to have allergies as well. If one parent has allergies, a child has a 40% chance of having allergies. If both parents have allergies, there is a 7-8 in 10 chance that their offspring will have allergies. Even though children may be born with a predisposition to develop allergies, they do not always develop the same allergies as their parents.
Unlike eczema and food allergies, which may start at a young age, inhalant allergies usually require several pollen seasons to develop. The signs and symptoms of inhalant allergies are usually not apparent until 3 years of age or older. However, it is possible for both food and environmental allergies to develop at any point in life.
Children with allergies are also more likely to develop asthma. It is estimated that 80% of children with asthma have evidence of allergies. Therefore, recognizing and treating allergies can have a significant impact on reducing asthma symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Allergies
There are some symptoms that are commonly associated with allergies such as:
- Sleep disturbances
Allergy symptoms can be more than bothersome or irritating. They can interfere with your day-to-day activities and sleep. Allergies can result in loss of productivity, missed work or school and an overall poor quality of life. Seeking the help of an allergist is the key to treating your allergies.
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Atlanta Allergies: When To Prepare For Peak Pollen Counts
Sunday Forecast
First day of spring and it will feel like it with plenty of sunshine and temperatures near 70 degrees.
ATLANTA – March 20 marks the first day of spring. Gesundheit!
While spring can bring positive associations with warm weather and blooming flowers, some people dread miserable allergy symptoms instead.
Georgia could be entering the peak of its allergy season as counts steadily trend upward. There have been 13 days of pollen counts higher than 107 particles per cubic meter in 2022.
Here’s a look at the 2022 allergy season in Georgia, so far, and ways for severe allergy sufferers to stop symptoms before they become over.
Oak Pollen Concentrations Are Increasing 5% A Year In Atlanta
Summer is here, and for some people its a welcome change, because it means the springtime allergy season is over. Bad allergies can cause far worse than a runny nose.
Exposure to pollen has been linked to asthma attacks and increases in hospital admissions for respiratory illness, says Arie Manangan, a health scientist in the CDCs climate and health program.
He says the dangers are growing as the climate warms.
In a recent study, Manangan and his team analyzed 27 years of pollen data from Atlanta, Georgia. They found that, on average, tree pollen seasons are starting earlier and getting longer. Average daily pollen concentrations also increased over the years.
So oak pollen, which is considered highly allergenic, increased by 5.2% every year. And the eastern red cedar, which is also a severe allergen, increased by 9.9% every year, Manangan says.
Warmer temperatures may not be the only factor driving the change. But the results are consistent with a growing body of evidence showing that peoples exposure to pollen is increasing as the climate warms.
So Manangan says people who suffer from allergies should keep an eye on the pollen forecast and take steps to protect themselves.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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What Is The Source Of The Pollen
In the Atlanta area, most of the pollen comes from hardwood trees, in addition to oaks, willows, pines, sycamores, beeches, grass and weeds.
is a very large pollen, explained local allergist Dr. Lily Hwang. And when theyre that large, they tend to not cause an immunologic response, and they cause more of an irritant response. And so, patients may think they may be allergic to all these other allergens, but they may just be having an irritant response.
What Is Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, often referred to as allergies or hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nasal membranes which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Common symptoms associated with hay fever are nasal congestion, itching in the nose, mouth, eyes or throat, sneezing, drainage, cough, and headaches. Eye itching and swelling are referred to as allergic conjunctivitis.
There are two forms of allergic rhinitis:
- Seasonal: Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis can occur in spring, summer and early fall. They are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to airborne mold spores or to pollens from grass, trees and weeds.
- Perennial: People with perennial allergic rhinitis experience symptoms year-round. It is generally caused by dust mites, pet hair or dander, cockroaches or mold.
Other conditions associated with allergies are asthma, chronic sinus infections, eczema and hives. People with allergies may also suffer from fatigue and sleep disorders.
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Let Our Allergists Help
At The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center, our board-certified allergists can help you find relief and get back to enjoying the outdoors regardless of the season or the severity of your allergic reactions. Typically, we start with a physical history of your symptoms, which may or may not be followed by a skin test. Skin tests are very important because they allow us to know specifically whats causing your symptoms, and once we know the triggers, we know how to fight against them. Youll then work with your allergist to decide what treatment is best for you! Often that treatment includes immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which are the closest thing to a cure. Immunotherapy desensitizes your immune system to your allergic triggers. Once your immune system stops reacting, you stop sneezing, and thats a win especially since its all done without unwanted side effects from over-the-counter drugs. Plus, allergy shots are the best and only option for long-lasting, long-term relief.
If you notice your spring getting hijacked by allergies, take back control. Schedule an appointment with our allergy experts and enjoy spring with all its outdoor activities this year.
Why Are Allergies Worse In The South
The South has longer allergy seasons, meaning people who live there are exposed to pollen for longer. In addition, because Georgia has warmer winters, plants dont die or become dormant, which also leads to increased exposure.
People who live in areas with a shorter allergy season are only exposed to the first phase of pollen, called the priming effect, which typically causes runny nose and congestion. But in regions where the season is prolonged, we get the priming effect plus a second blast of pollen, leading to longer and more severe symptoms.
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Worst Us Cities For People With Allergies: The List
The cities of the U.S. have been ranked according to how challenging they are to live in for people with allergies. The rankings come from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Cities were scored on a 100-point scale based on three factors: their average pollen count, rate of allergy medicine use and ratio of allergists to patients. The list is topped with Wichita, Kan., considered to be this year’s most challenging city to live in for people with allergies.
Here is the list, along with each city’s score.
1. Wichita, Kan.
Has Allergy Season Started When Will It End
Youve probably noticed yellow pollen floating through the air and collecting on windshields, especially near Piedmont Park, indicating allergy season has begun. However, for some allergy season is year-round. This is because the onset and duration of allergy season depend on what exactly youre allergic to. We explain more below.
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Worst States For Allergies
Get ready to discover the top worst states for seasonal allergies. I compiled the data from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America top allergy capitals article. From this article, I created averages to come up with these 35 states with the worst allergies in the U.S.
The AAFAs report was compiled by considering the following:
- Spring and Fall Seasonal Allergy Scores
- Over-the-counter allergy medications
- Availability of board-certified allergists in the local area
How Can I Avoid Allergies
Obviously, you arent expected to live your life in a bubble, but there are things that can be done to minimize your exposure to specific allergens. For example, if you are allergic to dust, you can dust-proof your bedroom by using allergy-proof mattress and pillow covers. If you are allergic to pollen and/or grass, it is beneficial to keep your windows closed and to shower immediately following outdoor activities. There are many ways to cut down on the allergens in your environment. Talk to your allergist about any information that they can provide on allergy avoidance.
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