No Youre Not Imagining It: Seasonal Allergies Are Worse This Year
School of Medicines Fred Little on reasons for the spike and what you can do about it
Its that time of year againyoure sitting outdoors enjoying the sunshine, when all of a sudden, you start to feelitchy. Within an hour, that itch has turned into a full-blown sneeze attack complete with watery eyes and congestion, and now youre running to the nearest pharmacy to buy some Zyrtec.
Seasonal allergiesor an allergic reaction to the tree and grass pollens that float around in the spring and summer, known as allergic rhinitisaffect nearly 60 million people in the United States every year. This year, theyre particularly bad in the Northeast, which can be attributed to factors such as climate change and recent dry spells, says longtime allergist Fred Little, a Boston University School of Medicine clinical associate professor of medicine and the director of the Boston Medical Center allergy-immunology fellowship.
We spoke with Little about how allergies work and what you can do to cut down on the sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies To Worsen During Certain Months
Although allergy season varies by region, the following climate elements can affect the severity of your symptoms:
- Pollen from trees, grasses, and ragweed thrives on cool nights and warm days.
- Mold grows quickly in hot, humid environments.
- Pollen levels are the highest in the morning.
- Although pollen is washed away by rain, pollen counts can spike after heavy rain.
- Airborne allergens are grounded on a windless day.
- Pollen counts increase when the weather is windy and warm.
Ragweed, a plant that grows wild practically everywhere and blooms and releases pollen from August to November, is the most prevalent cause of fall allergies. Ragweed pollen levels are the highest in several parts of the country around mid-September.
Scientists aren’t sure why some people have allergies and others don’t. However, studies have shown that genetics and environment are both significant contributors in the development of seasonal allergies.
Natural Ways To Defeat Texas Seasonal Allergies
- Cleanse your nasal passages more often.
- Drink apple cider vinegar with water and lemon juice to break up mucus and boost the immune system.
- Add essential oils to your bath water or tea to reduce allergy symptoms.
- Clean your house regularly to get rid of accumulated dust, spores and pollen.
- Strengthen your immune system by managing your stress levels through self-care activities.
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What Do You Do If Youre Caught Off Guard Without Allergy Medicine
Heres a great, quick remedy treatment you can use in case you find yourself in a situation where you cant take medication or avoid your triggers.
First, check the pollen forecast. Then use nasal saline rinse or irrigation several times throughout the day during the worst of the tree pollen season. The saline irrigation removes pollen particles from the surface of your nasal passages, clears thick or crusted nasal drainage and soothes irritated nasal membranes.
There are a number of studies that found that patients with allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis who use regular saline rinses have less bacterial load and require fewer antibiotics. Using a rinse may also reduce your need for medication to control allergies.
You can buy saline rinse or irrigation kits at any drugstore and many grocery stores. These kits usually use a squeeze bottle or gravity to direct saline through the nasal passages. A common squeeze bottle technique is to position your head downward and rotated slightly to the left . Gently squeeze some of the solution into your right nostril the solution will come out through your left nostril. Now repeat on the other side.
How Long Do Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Last
Different seasonal allergens spike at different times of the year, so when you can expect to feel your typical allergy symptoms depends on what you’re allergic to.
Spring allergy symptoms usually start around March when tree pollen is the main offender, Corbett said. That season typically lasts through April, he said. Then comes grass pollen season, which goes from May through the summer. Finally, from late summer through October is prime ragweed season.
So, if you’re someone who is allergic to more than one or even all of these pollens, you might experience so-called “seasonal” allergy symptoms for a large chunk of the year. “Some of our spring allergy sufferers really are having problems from late winter to early summer,” Dr. Courtney Jackson Blair, past president of the Greater Washington Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society and practice owner of Allergy and Asthma Associates, P.C., told TODAY.
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What Are Common Signs And Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies
An allergy occurs when your immune system reacts negatively to something that would ordinarily be harmless. Allergens are substances that can trigger an allergic reaction, resulting in various symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening, depending on the allergen.
Texas Allergy Season Calendar
This allergen is particularly acute in Central Texas, where mountain cedar is plentiful. Additionally, since the pollen is small, light, and can travel hundreds of miles, its difficult to avoid.
Symptoms: The pollen from these common trees can lead to itchy, watery eyes or a runny or stuffy nose and sneezing.
Right as the mountain cedar season is wrapping up, Texans get hit with a trio of new allergens: elm, ash, and mulberry.
Symptoms: These three trees produce pollen that can lead to sneezing, wheezing, and asthma-like symptoms.
Springtime adds oak and pecan tree pollen to the mix, as well as pollen from grasses, such as Bermuda, Johnson, and Kentucky bluegrass. Because grasses are so plentiful, this can be a particularly irritating time of year for anyone sensitive to grass.
Symptoms: In addition to the typical runny nose and watery eyes, grass allergies can lead to a sore throat and asthma-like symptoms.
The summer months offer a trade-off: blazing heat for allergy relief. By June and July, the most common sources of allergies have stopped producing pollen, and pollen counts drop.
In August, a new and notorious allergy culprit arrives on the scene: ragweed. Ragweed is a soft-stemmed, flowering weed that is populous in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is particularly plentiful in the southwestern U.S. Other prevalent allergens this time of year include dust mites and mold spores but those are also present year-round.
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Pollen Allergy Testing And Treatment
The good news is that you dont have to suffer through tree pollen season. Be sure to contact an allergy and asthma specialist for a formal allergy evaluation, preferably before the season begins or very early in the season. You may already know that you have a seasonal allergy, but do not know just which pollen you are allergic to. Allergists can determine the specific pollens that are causing your problems and can tell you when that pollen is expected to be in the air.
Your allergist will take a detailed history of any reactions youve had, then if indicated, he or she can test for allergies to identify the culprit allergen and determine the best course of treatment.
The most common method of testing for pollen allergies is a simple skin prick test. At our office, we use a very fine stylet that is lightly pressed against the skin. The stylet introduces individual pollens and other allergens to the immune system in your skin. If youre allergic or sensitive to a particular allergen, a small pink raised bump will appear within minutes where the skin prick test was placed.
For some people, a blood test may be the best option to determine your allergic sensitivity. A small amount of your blood is taken and tested to check for antibodies that respond to specific allergens. Depending on your allergy test results, we can offer guidance about the best and most direct course of action for your symptoms.
What Is A Pollen Count
A pollen count is how much pollen is in the air. To get a pollen count, a device such as an air sampler is used to capture pollen, and then the sample pollens are identified and counted. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunologys National Allergy Bureau collects pollen and reports these counts around the U.S.
Some websites or weather news report pollen forecasts also. Pollen forecasts are estimates, just like a weather forecast. Most of the time, pollen forecasts will only report on the most common types of pollen. This may help you identify which type of pollen is present in your area and triggering your allergy symptoms. Pollen forecasts can help you prepare, but you may feel allergy symptoms at times when the forecast predicted low or moderate amounts of pollen.
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Allergies In Spring Versus Fall
There is a significant difference between detecting allergies in the spring and fall.
- The severe allergy season has been exacerbated by the mild winter, the transition from winter to spring is more visible.
- Temperatures increase above freezing, causing snow to melt, plants to flower and bud, and more foliage to appear.
Because of the milder temperatures, mold that would typically die off in the winter months persists. Many people have had severe allergies as a result of this, as well as exceptionally high quantities of tree pollen.
Even those who ordinarily have no allergies or just experience minor symptoms have had severe responses this spring. So, if you have seen unusual allergy responses in 2021, you are not alone.
How To Prepare For Allergy Season
There are many ways that you can get prepped for allergy season, and one of the best ways to start is by reducing your exposure to allergens like pollen.
Discover our simple tips on how to prepare for allergy season from checking pollen reports in your area to dressing for pollen-heavy weather.
If you are suffering from allergy symptoms, however, you can manage them with an effective over-the-counter allergy relief medicine, like FLONASE Allergy Relief Spray. FLONASE relieves your worst allergy symptoms by blocking six of the inflammatory substances produced by your body in response to allergens, while most allergy pills only block one.**
FLONASE relieves nasal congestion, as well as sneezing, itchy, watery eyes*, and runny nose for more complete allergy relief.**
Mechanism vs most over-the-counter allergy pills. FLONASE nasal sprays act on multiple inflammatory substances . The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown. * FLONASE SENSIMIST is indicated for itchy, watery eyes in adults and children 12 years of age and older. ** vs single-ingredient antihistamines which do not treat nasal congestion
For more information on allergy season, watch our quick video below.
i. Seasonal allergies. Nemours Kids Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/seasonal-allergies.html. Accessed 17/07/20.
ii. Allergic Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/hay-fever-rhinitis. Accessed 17/07/20.
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What Is Oral Allergy Syndrome And How Is It Related To Pollen Allergy
If you have symptoms of an allergic reaction in your mouth or throat when you eat certain fruits, vegetables, or nuts, it may be related to a pollen allergy. This is called oral allergy syndrome .
OAS happens because some tree, grass, or weed pollen is similar to the protein in some fruits, vegetables, and nuts.3 Your immune system gets confused and cant tell the difference between the two. Eating these foods may cause your mouth, lips, tongue, and throat to itch or swell. These foods may include apples, cherries, pears, and more. Birch and alder tree pollen, as well as ragweed pollen, cause many OAS food reactions.
If you think you may have OAS, talk with an allergist.
Oral allergy syndrome happens because some tree, grass, or weed pollen is similar to the protein in some fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Eating these foods may cause your mouth, lips, tongue, and throat to itch or swell.
Pollen Changes Will Vary By Region
We looked at 15 different pollen types, rather than treating all pollen the same as many past studies have.
Typically, pollination starts with leafy deciduous trees in late winter and spring. Alder, birch and oak are the three top deciduous trees for causing allergies, though there are others, like mulberry. Then grasses come out in the summer, followed by ragweed in late summer. In the Southeast, evergreen trees like mountain cedar and juniper start in January. In Texas, cedar fever is the equivalent of hay fever.
We found that in the Northeast, pollen seasons for a lot of allergenic trees will increasingly overlap as temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions rise. For example, it used to be that oak trees would release pollen first, and then birch would pollinate. Now we see more overlap of their pollen seasons.
In general, pollen season will change more in the north than in the south, because of larger temperature increases in northern areas.
Southeastern regions, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, can expect large grass and weed pollen increases in the future. The Pacific Northwest is likely to see peak pollen season a month earlier because of the early pollen season of alder.
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Diagnosis & Treatment Options
We are here to bring you relief from seasonal allergies! Dr. Schulte has vast experience diagnosing and treating these issues. We will consult with you on your medical history and symptoms, and then recommend skin or blood testing so we can get to the source of your allergies.
After diagnosis, we will tailor a treatment plan to your individual needs. We explain lifestyle measures that can help you avoid allergy triggers. Some patients have success with allergy medications that we will discuss with you. Additionally, we offer treatment options including oral immunotherapy and allergy shots. Patients who go the allergy shot route frequently receive a personalized, tailored Cluster Immunotherapy plan from our doctors, which provides faster results than traditional immunotherapy. The allergy shots and oral immunotherapy decrease your immune response to allergens and mitigate symptoms. Our goal is to get you enjoying the outdoors without fear of the allergens floating through the air!
How Does Climate Change Impact Seasonal Allergies
Many scientists and doctors think climate change is a factor behind a recent rise in allergies and extreme pollen seasons. Fueled by higher temperatures and milder winters, plants are blooming earlier and longer in some parts of the country. The extended growing season means higher levels of pollen in the air.
Many people with allergies experience worse symptoms when early spring weather fluctuates between warm and cold. This is called the priming effect. When theres an early warm spell, trees and grass release a first round of pollen. The resulting allergic reaction primes a persons immune system for more severe pollen reactions later in the spring.
During longer allergy seasons with high pollen counts, allergy patients may find they need to use more medication to manage symptoms. Talk with your doctor about whether you should adjust your allergy management plan or medication schedule. Find out whether allergen immunotherapy for pollen is right for you.
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What Is The Difference Between An Allergy And A Cold
Since allergies may cause mild, cold-like symptoms, understanding the differences between seasonal allergies and the common cold can help you identify the most appropriate treatment for your symptoms:
- Causes: Unlike allergies, the common cold is caused by a virus. Allergy symptoms are the result of the immune system’s reaction to allergens such as pollen, dust, pet dander, etc.
- Symptoms: Fever, aches, and pain are common symptoms of colds that aren’t usually related to allergies.
- Symptom duration: A cold usually lasts no more than 10 days, while allergies may last for months.
- Asthma: Asthma and allergies are frequently co-occurring illnesses, and many people with allergies also have asthma.
Pollen Levels Are Already On The Rise
A study in 2021 found that the overall pollen season was already about 20 days longer in North America than it was in 1990 and pollen concentrations were up about 21%.
Increasing pollen levels in the future will have a much broader impact than a few sniffles and headaches. Seasonal allergies affect about 30% of the population, and they have economic impacts, from health costs to missed working days.
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Common Symptoms Of Allergies Include:
- Rhinitis itchy, runny, or blocked nose
- Incessant sneezing
- Swelling of lips, eyes, hands, or face
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Anti-allergic medication can treat most of these symptoms. Still, you must seek professional assistance early on to determine the cause of your allergies and the best treatment options available.
Rarely, an allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a body-wide severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. The onset of anaphylaxis is within minutes of exposure to an allergen, and if the correct medical aid is not administered swiftly, chances of survival can be bleak.
- Swelling of the throat and mouth
- Difficulty breathing wheezing, gasping for air
- Blue skin or lips
- Collapsing or losing consciousness
If you see someone showing clear signs of anaphylaxis, do not hesitate to properly administer the epi-pen they must have at hand and call for medical assistance.
Seasonal Allergies: A Month
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