Allergy Capital Of The World
Many places in the United States claim the title of allergy capital because people in the area suffer significant symptoms. Austin is usually rated in the top five worst places for allergies. Different geographic regions have different predominant pollens and seasons. For instance, in the Midwest, fall hayfever may be especially severe in August and September until the first freeze. In fact, most of the U.S. has fall and spring pollen seasons.
Austin is unique in having three distinct pollen seasons. In the fall, ragweed and other weeds release pollen from mid-August to early November. This season is much longer than in other parts of the country. In the spring, Oak, ;Ash, Elm and Pecan trees pollinate from February to early June. Grasses pollinate from March through September. The hot, dry, summer weather often kills off much of the grass, so some years there is very little pollen in July and early August.
In the winter, Mountain Cedar pollen season extends from December to February; this allergy season is unique to Central Texas. Cedar pollen counts in Central Texas are the highest pollen counts of any plant anywhere in the world. Cedar allergy, referred to as cedar fever, can be intense and debilitating. On days of very high pollen counts, many cedar allergic people cant go outdoors without experiencing severe symptoms. Some people must miss work or school and cant get good control of their symptoms despite taking lots of medication.
Common Seasonal Allergy Triggers
If you sneeze and cough during certain times of the year, you may have seasonal allergies. However, occasional allergies arent something you just have to live with.
In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Tree pollination begins earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall. In tropical climates, however, grass may pollinate throughout a good portion of the year. Mild winter temperatures can cause plants to pollinate early. A rainy spring can also promote rapid plant growth and lead to an increase in mold, causing symptoms to last well into the fall.
The most common culprit for fall allergies is ragweed, a plant that grows wild almost everywhere, but especially on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November. In many areas of the country, ragweed pollen levels are highest in early to mid-September.
Other plants that trigger fall allergies include:
- Burning bush
- Sagebrush and mugwort
- Tumbleweed and Russian thistle
While the timing and severity of an allergy season vary across the country, the following climate factors also can influence how bad your symptoms might be:
Find expert care with an Allergist.
An allergist can pinpoint the cause and help you find relief.
How Do You Measure Pollen Counts
Most pollen counting stations that are reported on the news or web use air volume sampling devices where the amount of pollen is measure over a period of time . The amount and types of pollen can be measured using these machines are highly standardized and operated by certified personnel. Usually the count reflects the amount of pollen present in the air the prior twenty-four hours.
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After The Spring Grasses Continue To Pollinate Through June July Usually Has Little Pollen In The Wind
While the conifers and others have finished up, in the hot summer months fast growing grasses and weeds continue to release pollen into the air. Cereal crops like corn, rye, and oats are types of grasses and usually start pollinating using the wind in spring. Some grasses even release their pollen between the hours of 5am and 9am to take advantage of morning breezes so the first half of the day may have more pollen than the second.;
Grasses tend to finish their pollination toward the end of June as the heat gets the most intense. July is often a reprieve from allergies as plants focus on growing and keeping hydrated. But by August, weeds start to become active.;
Common Allergies By Season And How To Treat Them
Learn which pollens are most common in Pennsylvania throughout the year and how to minimize allergic reactions.
Fashion isnt the only thing that changes by the season. Learn which allergies have a habit of striking during certain timesand the best tricks to avoid an allergic reaction.
Fall
Ragweed-fueled allergies typically begin in September and last through the season. Levels of ragweed pollen are generally highest in the morning, and the allergen tends to thrive during cool nights and warm, windy days. While pollen is washed away by rain, pollen counts tend to soar after a rainfall. Take note of the weather and consult your health care provider about taking an antihistamine medication.
Winter
Christmas trees bring holiday cheerbut they can contain microscopic mold spores in their branches, and that can cause major wheezing and sneezing. Shake trees well to get rid of these allergens before you carry them into your home.
Thanks to winters bare trees, theres less pollen floating around organicallybut using indoor heating can instigate dust, which can be a major allergy trigger.
To reduce dust exposure, keep your humidity below 55 percent, vacuum your home frequently, and use dust-mite-proof covers on pillows and mattresses. Regularly clean home air filters, as well as bookshelves, vents, and other common collecting places for dust.
Spring
During spring and summer, grass and tree pollens are highest in the evening. To avoid an allergic reaction:
Summer
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Allergy Forecast: A Bad Year For Everyone
Like taxes, allergy season is one of those things you just cant avoid. In fact, due to climate change, it may be getting worse. Warmer temperatures lead to more pollen production, so 2021 may be the most intense allergy season yet. And due to COVID-19 quarantine, children may especially have a rough year.
When is allergy season?
It starts in the spring and continues until the fall, but different allergens, the substances that trigger allergies, appear at different times.
: As spring begins, tree pollen is the top allergen, followed by weeds and grasses. In some parts of Maryland, its not unusual to see cars covered by the itchy stuff.
May to July: In May, all the trees, grass and weeds gang up to pump out allergens, making it a bad time for allergy sufferers. This is the start of peak allergy season, which continues until July.
: Enter ragweed, a common flowering plant. Ragweed is the leading cause of seasonal allergies, with 75% of all sufferers allergic to it.
With temperatures falling and plants starting to go dormant, the air starts to clear, bringing an end to outdoor allergy season. Now its possible to breathe a sigh of relief without coughing.
See the Interactive Allergy Forecaster for allergy conditions where you live.
COVID-19 and childrens allergies
Surviving allergy season
If your or your childs allergy symptoms are severe or continue a long time, your;health care provider;may be able to help or refer you to an allergist.
A Seasonal Guide To Pollen By Month
The UK pollen calendar isnt a short one, sadly. It kicks off as early as January, and continues through spring and summer well into autumn. September marks the end of the pollen highs, but that doesnt mean there will be no pollen in winter.
While hay fever peaks last around seven months, the good news is most people wont be dealing with allergies for that length of time. Different months bring with them different pollens – and these each come with their own symptoms. All you need to do is take note when your nose starts twitching, your eyes watering and youre reaching for the tissues. Then look at our calendar below and see if you can identify the pollen thats causing the problems.
Tree pollen is the first to arrive in the pollen calendar with February recording high numbers, followed by grass pollen peaking in June and then weed pollen in October. In this guide, weve taken a closer look at the different pollens that come out to play month-to-month.
- Pollen by month
- Pollen type by season
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Pollen Type By Season
Spring
Tree pollen, grass pollen and weed pollen are all around from March through to May. Tree pollen and grass pollen have peaks, so spring hay fever symptoms could be more severe, such as painful sinuses and a cough.
Summer
Summer hay fever brings with it a peak in grass and weed pollen, meaning itchy and watery eyes could be much worse, especially when going outside with allergies or around cut grass.
Autumn
Hay fever in autumn reduces as pollen season ends at the beginning of September.
Winter
Tree pollen begins its season in January, meaning hay fever in winter can sometimes be mistaken for a cold as symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, cough and itchy eyes.
If youre planning on spending time outdoors, especially during peak pollen season, read our tips from Allergy UK to helpmanage the symptoms.
What Are Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are allergy symptoms that only occur at certain times of the year, usually when allergens like mold spores and different types of pollen from trees, grasses or weeds are released into the air.i
If you are allergic to mold spores or pollen just as with other allergies such as dust or pet allergies your immune system cells will treat these allergens as a threat, and react by releasing substances such as histamine into your bloodstream to help combat them.i This release of histamine can cause common allergy symptoms such as:ii
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy mouth or skin
- Fatigue
You can develop seasonal allergies at almost any age, however they usually develop by around the age of 10 and peak around your early 20s. Symptoms can also often disappear later in life.i
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Why Are Allergies So Bad In Texas
In most parts of the country, the allergy season is limited to the spring, when pollinating plants release the microscopic pollen dust that irritates sinuses and turns eyes watery and red. But once the spring turns to summer, and the pollination season is over, the allergens largely disappear. Not so in Texas.
As it turns out, one of the big reasons why allergies are so bad in Texas is the heat. But its not those blistering summer days that are to blame. Rather, the states relatively mild winters create the perfect environment for year-round allergens. Texas mild winters allow for year-round plant growth, which means plants can pollinate throughout the year. While other parts of the U.S. are experiencing frigid temperatures that turn vegetation dormant, some Texas plants are undergoing another season of pollination. In fact, winter is one of the worst times of the year for allergies in Texas.
When To Contact A Doctor
Most seasonal allergy symptoms are mild and treatable with over-the-counter medications, while other symptoms may not require any treatment. Contact a doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Chronic sinus infections, congestion, or difficulty breathing
- Symptoms of allergies several months out of the year
- Undesirable side effects or no symptom improvement from over-the-counter seasonal allergy medicine
- Asthma or allergies inhibit day-to-day activities or quality of life
- Warning signs of serious asthma attacks such as difficulty breathing, wheezing or coughing, or tightness in the chest
Medicine for allergy relief can cause side effects and complications when combined with other drugs. Talking to a doctor before taking over-the-counter medications wont hurt; they may be able to help you choose what medication is best for you. It is particularly important to contact a doctor before using allergy medicine if:
- You are pregnant or breast-feeding
- You have chronic health conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, osteoporosis, or high blood pressure
- You are currently taking other medications
- You are treating allergies in a child
- You are treating allergies in elderly patients
- Your current allergy medicine is not working
A visit with a doctor or allergist might include:
- Allergy testing
- Education
- Prescriptions
- Immunotherapy, which is a treatment that periodically injects allergens with the goal of desensitizing the body, resulting in allergy relief
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Contact Florida Ent & Allergy
At Florida ENT & Allergy, we provide advanced allergy testing and treatment services throughout the Tampa area. Contact us today at 813-879-8045 to schedule an appointment today.
What our patients are saying
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What Is The Cause Of Allergy Symptoms In The Fall
Ragweed is the main culprit this time of year. It grows wild almost everywhere, but especially on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November, with pollen counts peaking in mid-September. Follow the daily #AtlantaAllergyPollenCount and mold activity on our website or .
Ragweed pollen is very light and can travel far when carried by the wind. Considered the most allergenic of all the pollens, those allergic should avoid being outside during mid-day when counts are highest and follow our other tips for surviving high pollen days.
If you are allergic to ragweed pollen, you may experience itching of the tongue, mouth and lips after eating foods like melons, bananas and zucchini due to cross-reactivity. This is known as Oral Allergy Syndrome and occurs when the immune system reacts to the proteins in certain foods as they are similar to the proteins in pollens.
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When Does Pollen Season Typically Start And End
In many cases, there is a season in which pollen counts are highest. These seasons vary depending on the type of pollen were talking about. For ragweed pollen, for example, the ACAAI says ragweed starts growing in August and may not stop until November. For grass pollen, youre more likely to be symptomatic later in the season, from May to July, which is technically summertime. Tree pollen tends to be at its worst from March until the middle of May.
How Many Months Is Allergy Season Going To Last Anyway
Allergy season is upon us again in early spring.; It may be more accurate to say that the short time when pollen is not in the air has ended. In North America allergy season isnt just spring, summer, or fall. There are plants using the air we breathe to conduct their reproductive cycle whenever it is not cold out.
Many plants reproduce without us noticing by dropping tough spores, convincing insects to participate, or just cloning themselves. About 12% of plants spread pollen on the wind in the hopes that it will land on a viable partner. Most of these plants are conifer trees, grasses, and weeds. Flowering plants rarely use the wind because the purpose of the flower is to attract pollinating insects. When pollen allergies arise depends on how far you live from the equator, but there is usually at least one plant species filling the air with pollen.
Different people are sensitive to different kinds of pollen. If you do suffer from allergies it is best to ask your doctor for an allergy test. By analyzing blood or by pricking the skin with tiny amounts of pollen, it can be determined which specific species of pollen you are allergic to. Armed with that information, you can then find out when and where the particular species that torments you is most likely to be, then prepare ahead of time.
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Climate Change And The Pandemic Are Playing A Huge Role
Year over year, were finding climate change is a major factor in worsening symptoms for spring and fall pollen seasons, said Kenneth Mendez, the CEO and president of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The rising temps and increasing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are making pollen seasons heavier and longer. Allergy season is now 10 days longer than it was in 1990, and trees, grass and weeds are producing 21% more pollen. More pollen means more runny noses, watery eyes and itchy throats.
Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in pollen counts on a yearly basis, and this is due to global warming and an increase in CO2, which we know plays a role in higher pollen counts, said Payel Gupta, an allergist and immunologist and medical director of the at-home allergy clinic Cleared.
The recent warm weather were seeing this year and in the past few years is to blame. Plants bloom in warm weather, then tree, grass and weed pollen pick up and fly into the air around us.
In the past, warm weather didnt appear until April or so, delaying pollen-producing plants from blooming. But its been getting warmer earlier year after year. Some areas in the Northeast saw 70-degree days as early as January this year. On top of that, the first freeze we typically see each fall is happening later in the year. Mendez said this keeps flowering pants like ragweed a major source of allergies alive and well.
