Atlanta – For countless Americans, allergy season spells discomfort as pollens from trees, grasses, and other plants trigger symptoms like runny noses, itchy eyes, and constant sneezing. Factors such as location, specific allergies, and personal habits significantly influence the severity of these allergic reactions. While climate change has extended and intensified allergy seasons, advancements in treatment options have improved over the last decade, providing much-needed relief.
Experts highlight several tips to ease your allergy symptoms and possibly allow you to enjoy outdoor activities. Initially, understanding the regions with the highest pollen levels can help you prepare. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America releases an annual list of the most challenging cities for allergy sufferers, based on data such as pollen counts, over-the-counter medication sales, and the number of allergy specialists available. This year’s top five cities for allergies include Wichita, Kansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Oklahoma City, and Tulsa in Oklahoma; and Memphis, Tennessee.
Pollen comes from a few main sources, with different allergens peaking at various times of the year. Early spring typically sees tree pollen as the primary cause of allergic reactions, followed by grasses in the late spring and summer, and weeds in the late summer and early fall. Typical tree pollens causing allergies are from birch, cedar, cottonwood, maple, elm, oak, and walnut trees. Grass pollens that cause discomfort include Bermuda, Johnson, rye, and Kentucky bluegrass.
Monitoring pollen levels can help you plan your outings. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology provides a network of counting stations across the U.S. to relay this information, which is available both on their website and through email notifications. Limiting your exposure to pollen is crucial. Keep windows in homes and cars closed, even when the weather is inviting. Dr. James Baker, an allergist based at the University of Michigan, recommends long sleeves to protect your skin from airborne pollen and offers solar protection.
Upon returning home, changing clothes and daily showers can remove pollen, including from your hair. If washing hair daily isn’t practical, consider wearing a hat or scarf when outside. Avoid bringing pollen into bed with outside clothes, and rinse eyes and nasal passages with saline solutions. Face masks used during the pandemic can still serve as a barrier, though they won’t alleviate eye irritation.
For symptom relief, experts recommend over-the-counter nasal sprays, which are highly effective when used correctly. Dr. Kathleen Mays of Augusta University suggests pointing the spray nozzle toward the ear rather than straight up to avoid nasal irritation. Oral allergy medications such as Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec are beneficial but may take longer to show effects because they’re ingested.
If allergies interfere with daily life, resulting in sleep disturbances or difficulty concentrating, consultation with an allergist for immunotherapy might be warranted. Some home remedies, including consuming local honey, are debunked by experts since the airborne pollen that triggers allergies differs from the pollen bees transfer.
Climate change contributes to shifting allergy seasons, with longer and milder winters creating extended growth periods for plants, resulting in prolonged and severe allergy seasons. Some areas have seen record-breaking pollen levels, such as the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Center, which recorded counts surpassing 14,000 grains per cubic meter in March, classified as extremely high.