Pollen Hotspots In New York City
From January through May, tree pollen raises pollen counts to some oftheir highest levels. After that, pollen levels remain fairly low fromJune through the rest of the year and even from August throughOctober, when pollen from weeds causes a slight uptick in pollencounts. When pollen counts are higher than the Empire StateBuilding, you might want to steer clear of parks and grassy areas ifyou want to keep seasonal allergies at bay. Thankfully, the Big Applehas a ton of activities that help you avoid pollen, so you can resteasy knowing that you can get the most out of the City that NeverSleepseven during allergy season.
Is It Fall Allergies Or Covid
Fall allergy season has arrived in New York City and ragweed is the main reason for your sneezin’. Here’s what you need to know and how to tell it apart from COVID-19.
What You Need To Know
- Fall allergy season lasts until the first freeze
- Keep your windows closed to limit pollen in your home
- Wearing a mask helps limit your exposure to pollen
If you’re like me, the start of August means more than just the last part of summer. It also means the start of fall allergy season.
About this time each year, I start watching the pollen report, waiting for the dreaded arrival of ragweed. It happened last year on Aug. 13, my birthday. It was a gift I wish I could return.
So far, levels are on the low side and I’m not noticing the usual itchy eyes and sneezing.
The twist this year, just like last year, is that fall allergies share several symptoms with COVID-19. Here’s how to tell them apart.
Allergy symptoms include runny nose, itchy or water eyes, dry cough and congestion. COVID-19 can produce some of these symptoms, as well, but also these conditions:
- Loss of taste or smell
- Body/muscle aches
Experts say that fever is the big tip-off that you may have something other than allergies.
There are ways to limit your exposure to the ragweed pollen that causes sneezing and coughing.
First off, wear a mask. You’re most likely doing this a lot of the time, anyway. By using a mask, you are helping keep the pollen from entering your nose and throat where it causes the allergic reactions.
Sublingual Immunotherapy Allergy Drops
Medications and lifestyle changes can certainly bring you short-term relief, but they dont get rid of your symptoms for good. They just manage them. With sublingual immunotherapy allergy drops, you can retrain your immune system to ignore your allergy triggers. Unlike allergy shots, allergy drops are pain-free and dont require frequent visits to the doctor. If youre interested in long-term relief from your allergies, Wyndly can help.
Also Check: Can A Gluten Allergy Cause Hair Loss
Are There Any Allergens Unique To Nyc
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there are about 19.1 million Americans suffering from hay fever and other allergic reactions. Allergies are an indication that you have a hypersensitive immune system. They lead to problems like sinusitis, asthma, and other reactions towards substances called allergens. In most cases, the allergic reactions are predictable and rapid.
Allergies are caused by the excessive activation of the mast cells and basophils. Both are types of white blood cells that fight the body against foreign invaders. These cells specifically have an inflammatory response to the Immunoglobulin E that is a type of antibody. While there are many seasonal and common allergies that occur in the United States such as hay fever, it seems that New Yorkers suffer more.
What Are The Different Types Of Pollen Allergies
Birch Pollen Allergies
One of the most common airborne allergens in the spring is birch pollen allergies. Small grains of pollen are scattered by the wind when trees bloom. Up to five million pollen grains can be produced from just a single birch tree, traveling over 100 yards from the original tree.
Oak Pollen Allergies
Oak trees also send pollen into the air during the spring. It stays in the air for longer periods of time but is considered mildly allergenic compared to other pollen types.
Grass Pollen Allergies
During the summer months, the grass is the primary trigger of pollen allergies. Compared to other pollen types, it causes some of the most severe and difficult-to-treat symptoms.
Ragweed Allergies
Ragweed allergies are most active between the late spring and fall months. They are the most common allergies among weed pollens. This type of pollen can travel hundreds of miles and can even withstand the winter season.
- Allergy Skin Test
Recommended Reading: Can Dogs Have Seasonal Skin Allergies
Seasonal Allergies In New York
Seasonal allergies like hay fever or allergic rhinitis are common
Tips To Help Manage Your Allergy Symptoms
1. Give your sinuses a bath.Nasal irrigation is another option whose effectiveness is backed by research. Try it yourself: Use a neti pot or bulb syringe and pour a saline solution in one nostril, letting it drain out the other. You will feel less congested and may need less medication.
2. Plan time outdoors wisely.Pollen counts tend to be at their highest between early morning and midmorning, as well as on hot, dry, windy days. Stay indoors during those times and go out later in the evening, to reduce the amount of pollen you inhale. You can also try wearing a face mask when you go outside.
3. Reduce pollen at home.Avoid bringing pollen back inside after youve been outdoors by taking your shoes off, changing your clothes and showering. In order to sleep better, you can try zipping up your mattress and pillows in hypoallergenic cases and wash your bedding in hot soapy water.
4. Find medication that works for you.It may take some trial and error to find the right allergy medication regimen for you talk to your doctor to create a plan of action. Nasal steroid sprays are usually recommended as a first line of treatment antihistamines and decongestants can offer some immediate relief. For a longer-term solution, consider allergy immunotherapy.
You should also talk to your doctor about prescription options if you have already tried several over-the-counter allergy medicines. An allergy specialist can help you formulate a plan for your specific allergies ahead of time.
Also Check: How Many Allergy Pills Can You Take In One Day
When Is Allergy Season
It depends on what you’re allergic to and where you live.
If you have seasonal allergies or hay fever, tree pollens can trigger symptoms in the late winter or spring. Ragweed releases pollen in the summer and fall. The specifics also depend on where you live. Allergy season can start as early as January in Southern states and linger into November.
If you have symptoms year-round or your allergies are worse indoors, you may be allergic to dust mites or pet dander.
The key is to see your doctor and find out what’s causing your symptoms. Once you do, you’ll know when yourallergy season starts and how to prepare.
Show Sources
Modern And Efficient At
Don’t Miss: Why Are My Allergies Worse When It’s Humid
While Rainy Days May Wash Away Some Pollen They Will Create Problems Further Down The Road How Do You Battle Seasonal Allergies
NEW YORK You may find yourself saying bless you! more often as you walk around town, according to AccuWeathers 2022 spring allergy forecast, giving New Yorkers a heads-up on what to expect as trees start budding and grass starts growing.
While spring, which officially begins Sunday, is a welcome time of rebirth, especially after a harsh winter, for a lot of New Yorkers who have seasonal allergies, the budding trees, blooming flowers and fresh green grass promise nothing but misery, sneezing and suffering.
A quick check of a pollen-tracking website found that much of the New York metropolitan area is already seeing medium-level 7.2 out of 10 pollen reports, with juniper, elm and maple the primary allergy suspects.
Your Allergies Are Not My Allergies
But according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, simply looking at those pollen counts doesn’t tell the entire story for individuals.
Most of us with allergies struggle with grass pollen, which isn’t usually an issue until later in the season. In the spring months, those high pollen counts are driven by tree pollen. When looking at pollen counts, it is important to note the type of pollen. Although the allergy season may begin earlier and end later in the season, it doesn’t mean that all of us will experience allergy symptoms for longer.
Those with allergies to tree pollen are the ones dealing with an earlier start to the season of sniffling and sneezing.
On the flip side, grass pollens may last longer into fall, so if grass pollen is your nemesis, you’ll feel that more on the tail end of the allergy season.
Here’s the wild card in all of this: with a changing climate, new plant species that didn’t exist here 20 or 30 years ago can move in and thrive. This means new kinds of pollens and potentially new allergies for some. There’s always something to keep you on your toes!
Recommended Reading: Can You Develop Seasonal Allergies Later In Life
Find Medication That Works For You
Several over-the-counter and prescription medications can help with allergy symptoms. Many doctors recommend nasal steroid sprays like Nasonex or Flonase as the first line of treatment, said Dr. Sandra Hong, an allergist at the Cleveland Clinic.
But they may take a few days or weeks to provide relief from stuffiness and sneezing, so it is best to begin using them early in the season, before your symptoms become severe. Antihistamines whether sprays like Astelin pills like Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec or eye drops like Optivar are other alternatives to take when needed, because they have a more immediate effect, she said.
It takes some trial and error to find the best medication regimen. If patients have tried one medication and it doesnt seem to be working for them, they should absolutely try other types to see if theyre more effective, Dr. Hong said.
When Should I Start Taking Allergy Meds
Theres no point in waiting until youre miserable to take allergy meds. In fact, allergists recommend you start taking meds a couple of weeks before allergy season arrives, or, at the latest, take them the moment you notice symptoms, says Dr. Parikh. Taking them early can stop an immune system freak-out before it happens, lessening the severity of symptoms, she adds. Check out the National Allergy Map to figure out when to start taking meds based on where you live.
Related Stories
As for which allergy meds to take, if youre seriously stuffed, start with steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase or Rhinocort, which reduce inflammation-induced stuffiness, says Dr. Keet. And if you’ve got itching, sneezing, and a runny nose too, look for non-sedating antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra, she adds.
Just remember: While OTC allergy meds suppress symptoms, they dont cure the problem, so they may be less effective if your allergies are worsening, notes Dr. Parikh.
Recommended Reading: Is Sore Throat A Symptom Of Allergies
Pollen Forecast For New York City
Check out the pollen forecast in New York City for the next few days.Were all about days when the pollen count is so low, its easy to sayyes to walking through Central Park or playing chess at WashingtonSquare Park. When pollen counts are higher than the High Line, packKleenex On-the-Go, so you can stay prepared for allergies, whereveryou are.
Nyc Allergy Forecast Predicts 1 Type Of Pollen Will Dominate Entire East Coast
AccuWeather’s 2022 allergy forecast says pollen from ragweed and other types of weeds will be exploding in New Jersey and the rest of the eastern United States this year.AccuWeather
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Get those antihistamines ready.
As we turn the corner into spring, allergy sufferers in New York City and the rest of the Northeast region could be in for a brutal allergy season thanks to a certain pollen, according to a report from a team of AccuWeather forecasters.
Weed pollen specifically will dominate the entire East Coast starting at the height of summer, with higher-than-normal levels in the late summer and early fall months, noted the forecasters, who analyzed weather patterns and climate research to inform their report.
OTHER POLLENS
However, its not all bad news for allergy sufferers in our area.
The forecasters predict steady rainfall in April and early May will put a damper on tree pollen typically the first and biggest cause of allergies each year in our region, with levels expected to be average or below average from the Appalachian Mountains to Maine.
Grass pollen will be at near-average levels this summer in the Northeast due to warm weather and sporadic rainfall, the latter of which should cause intermittent grass growth.
Its worth noting we might not be so lucky in the future.
COVID-19 VS SEASONAL ALLERGIES
So how do you know if youre dealing with seasonal allergies, or something more serious?
Read Also: How To Treat Seasonal Allergies
If Pollen Counts Are High
Here are a few other things you can do to head off an allergic reaction:
- Check the allergy forecast for your town.
- If high pollen counts are forecast, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.
- Close doors and windows at night or any other time when pollen counts are high.
- Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.
How To Prepare For Seasonal Allergies In New York City
If you think you are suffering from seasonal allergies, take an allergy test to identify what triggers your symptoms. The easiest way to get an allergy test in New York City is by getting an allergy test through Wyndly. Get your allergy test today to identify your allergies!
Understanding what causes your symptoms will make it easier for you to avoid your triggers and find effective treatments.
Read Also: Can You Get A Cough From Allergies
Seasonal Allergy Guide: Fall
Allergy season is winding down, but that doesnt mean well be saying goodbye to allergies for the rest of the year. Fall brings new allergens like ragweed pollen along with dust mite and food allergies which are year-round. Fall allergy triggers are different but can cause just as many symptoms as in spring and summer. These symptoms include:
- Itchy eyes and nose
- Dark circles under the eyes
As we prepare for students to return back to school, its important to understand these triggers and how to treat them this season.
Who Are Allergy Doctors In New York
In New York, there are several different types of providers you can go to for your allergies. The most common types of allergy doctors are allergists, immunologists, and ENTs. When choosing an allergy doctor, the most important thing is choosing a provider you trust.
It is also important to work with a doctor who will consider both your test results and your allergy history to make sure they make sense together. You should also consider how long you will need to wait to be seen by them and how convenient it is for your schedule.
At Wyndly, our allergy doctors will work with you to get you long-term relief from your symptoms. Our doctors will create a personalized treatment plan for you based on your allergy test results and your allergy history.
Recommended Reading: Which Allergy Medicine Is Best For Tree Pollen
What Months Are Nyc Allergy Season
In New York City, youll want to keep an eye on pollen counts in April, May, and September. These months are when seasonal allergies are typically at their peak. During these months, try limiting your time outdoors or going out in the evening when pollen counts tend to be lower.
If you have seasonal allergies and are traveling to New York City during April, May, or September, make sure you have an allergy treatment plan that works for you before your trip. During your trip, check the local pollen count daily to adjust your plans accordingly.
The Best Allergist In New York For Seasonal Allergies
If you are looking for the best doctor to treat your seasonal allergies in New York, look no further than Wyndly. At Wyndly, our allergy doctors will create a personalized treatment plan for your allergies to get you long-term allergy relief from your New York seasonal allergies.
Take our easy online assessment now to see if our doctors can get you long-term allergy relief from your seasonal allergies in New York!
Read Also: How Do Allergy Injections Reduce Symptoms
