Allergies in June: A Comprehensive Month-by-Month Guide to Seasonal Allergies
When do different types of allergies peak throughout the year. How can you identify and manage your allergy symptoms effectively. What are the most common allergens for each season and how to minimize exposure.
Understanding Seasonal Allergies: A Year-Round Perspective
Seasonal allergies affect millions of people worldwide, causing discomfort and disrupting daily life. While many associate allergies primarily with spring, the reality is that allergens can trigger reactions throughout the year. This comprehensive guide will explore the various types of allergies that occur during different months, helping you better understand and manage your symptoms.
Summer Allergies: More Than Just Pollen
As spring transitions into summer, many allergy sufferers hope for relief. However, summer brings its own set of allergens and challenges. While tree pollen levels typically decrease by late spring, other triggers emerge to cause allergic reactions.
Common Summer Allergens
- Grass pollen
- Weed pollen
- Mold spores
- Dust mites
- Insect stings
Grass and weed pollens are the primary culprits during summer months. Ragweed, in particular, is a widespread trigger that can travel hundreds of miles on the wind, affecting people even in areas where it doesn’t grow locally.
Air Quality Concerns
Summer air pollution can exacerbate allergy symptoms. Ground-level ozone, created by the interaction of sunlight and car exhaust chemicals, is especially problematic during this season. The combination of strong sunlight and calm winds can create ozone clouds around urban areas, further complicating respiratory issues for allergy sufferers.
Identifying and Managing Summer Allergy Symptoms
Summer allergy symptoms often mirror those experienced in spring, including:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
- Watery eyes
- Coughing
Do you experience these symptoms consistently during summer months? It’s essential to identify the specific triggers causing your allergic reactions. Consulting with an allergist can help pinpoint your allergens through skin tests or blood tests, allowing for more targeted treatment approaches.
Treatment Options for Summer Allergies
Various treatment options are available for managing summer allergy symptoms:
- Over-the-counter antihistamines
- Nasal corticosteroid sprays
- Decongestants
- Eye drops
- Prescription medications (if OTC options are ineffective)
- Immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual tablets)
How do you choose the right treatment for your allergies? Consult with your healthcare provider to determine the most effective approach based on your specific symptoms and allergens.
Navigating Allergies Throughout the Year
While summer allergies can be particularly troublesome, it’s important to understand that allergens can affect individuals year-round. Let’s explore the typical allergy patterns for each season:
Spring Allergies (March to May)
Spring is often considered the peak allergy season due to the prevalence of tree pollen. Common spring allergens include:
- Oak
- Birch
- Maple
- Elm
- Hickory
Fall Allergies (September to November)
As summer transitions to fall, weed pollen becomes the primary concern. Ragweed is the most notorious fall allergen, affecting up to 75% of people with spring and summer allergies. Other fall triggers include:
- Mugwort
- Sagebrush
- Tumbleweed
- Mold spores from decaying leaves
Winter Allergies (December to February)
While outdoor allergens decrease during winter, indoor allergens can become more problematic as people spend more time inside. Common winter allergens include:
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold
- Cockroach droppings
Strategies for Minimizing Allergy Exposure
Regardless of the season, there are several strategies you can employ to reduce your exposure to allergens:
- Monitor pollen counts and limit outdoor activities on high-pollen days
- Keep windows closed and use air conditioning with clean filters
- Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors
- Use a HEPA filter in your home
- Regularly clean and vacuum your living space
- Wash bedding in hot water weekly
- Consider wearing a mask when doing yard work or gardening
Are you implementing these strategies consistently? Creating an allergy management plan tailored to your specific triggers can significantly improve your quality of life throughout the year.
The Role of Climate Change in Allergy Patterns
Climate change is altering the landscape of allergies worldwide. Rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels are contributing to longer growing seasons and higher pollen production. This shift is leading to more intense and prolonged allergy seasons.
Impact on Allergy Seasons
- Extended pollen seasons
- Higher pollen counts
- Introduction of new allergens to regions
- Increased mold growth due to extreme weather events
How can you adapt to these changing patterns? Staying informed about local pollen forecasts and working closely with your healthcare provider to adjust your treatment plan as needed is crucial.
Emerging Treatments and Research in Allergy Management
The field of allergy treatment is continuously evolving, with researchers exploring new approaches to manage and potentially prevent allergic reactions. Some promising areas of research include:
- Biologics: Targeted therapies that address specific pathways in allergic responses
- Oral immunotherapy: Desensitization techniques for food allergies
- Microbiome manipulation: Exploring the role of gut bacteria in allergic diseases
- Personalized medicine: Tailoring treatments based on individual genetic profiles
Are you curious about emerging allergy treatments? Discuss with your allergist the latest developments that might be suitable for your specific condition.
The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis and Personalized Treatment
While understanding seasonal patterns is helpful, it’s crucial to recognize that each individual’s allergy profile is unique. Accurate diagnosis through allergy testing is essential for developing an effective management plan.
Types of Allergy Tests
- Skin prick tests
- Intradermal tests
- Blood tests (specific IgE tests)
- Patch tests (for contact dermatitis)
Based on your test results, your allergist can create a personalized treatment plan that may include a combination of avoidance strategies, medications, and immunotherapy.
The Role of Immunotherapy
For individuals with severe or persistent allergies, immunotherapy can be a game-changer. This treatment involves exposing the body to gradually increasing amounts of an allergen to build tolerance over time. Immunotherapy is available in two main forms:
- Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy)
- Sublingual tablets or drops (sublingual immunotherapy)
How effective is immunotherapy in managing allergies? Studies have shown that immunotherapy can significantly reduce allergy symptoms and medication needs in many patients, with effects often lasting years after treatment completion.
Living Well with Allergies: Beyond Medication
While medications and avoidance strategies are crucial, managing allergies effectively also involves lifestyle considerations. Here are some additional tips for living well with allergies:
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids
- Practice stress management techniques, as stress can exacerbate allergy symptoms
- Stay hydrated to help thin mucus secretions
- Consider using a neti pot or saline nasal rinse to clear allergens from nasal passages
- Keep a symptom diary to identify patterns and triggers
Have you incorporated these lifestyle changes into your allergy management routine? Small adjustments can often lead to significant improvements in quality of life for allergy sufferers.
The Connection Between Allergies and Asthma
For many individuals, allergies and asthma are closely linked. This connection, known as allergic asthma, occurs when allergens trigger asthma symptoms. Understanding this relationship is crucial for effective management of both conditions.
Key Points About Allergic Asthma
- Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma
- Common triggers include pollen, dust mites, and pet dander
- Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath
- Management often involves a combination of allergy and asthma treatments
If you have both allergies and asthma, how are you coordinating your treatment plans? Working with both an allergist and a pulmonologist can ensure comprehensive care and optimal symptom control.
Navigating Social and Professional Life with Allergies
Living with allergies can present challenges in social and professional settings. Here are some strategies for managing allergies while maintaining an active lifestyle:
- Communicate your needs: Inform friends, family, and colleagues about your allergies
- Plan ahead: Check pollen forecasts and prepare accordingly for outdoor events
- Advocate for yourself: Request accommodations at work if needed, such as a HEPA filter in your office
- Choose allergy-friendly activities: Opt for indoor activities on high-pollen days
- Travel smart: Research your destination’s allergy patterns and pack necessary medications
How do you balance your allergy management with your social and professional commitments? Finding this balance is key to maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle while keeping symptoms under control.
The Future of Allergy Prevention and Treatment
As our understanding of allergies continues to grow, researchers are exploring innovative approaches to prevention and treatment. Some exciting areas of development include:
- Gene therapy to modify allergic responses at the genetic level
- Development of more targeted and effective antihistamines
- Advancements in immunotherapy, including faster and more convenient protocols
- Exploration of the role of probiotics in preventing and managing allergies
- Use of artificial intelligence to predict allergy patterns and personalize treatments
What potential breakthroughs in allergy research are you most excited about? Staying informed about these developments can help you make educated decisions about your allergy management in the future.
As we continue to navigate the complex world of allergies, it’s clear that a comprehensive, year-round approach is necessary. By understanding the seasonal patterns of allergens, identifying your specific triggers, and working closely with healthcare providers, you can develop an effective strategy to manage your allergies and improve your quality of life. Remember, allergy management is an ongoing process, and staying informed about the latest research and treatment options is key to achieving optimal symptom control.
Summer Allergies
Spring’s over, but you’re still stopped up, sniffly, and sneezing.
Welcome to summer allergy season. It keeps going long after April’s showers and May’s flowers are gone.
Many of the same triggers are to blame. Once you know what they are, you can take steps to get treated.
Pollen Is the Biggest Culprit
Trees are usually done with their pollen-fest by late spring. That leaves grasses and weeds to trigger summer allergies.
The type of plant to blame varies by location. Those most likely to make you sneeze or sniffle include:
Weeds
- Ragweed
- Cockleweed
- Pigweed
- Russian thistle
- Sagebrush
- Tumbleweed
Grasses
- Bermuda
- Blue grasses
- Orchard
- Red top
- Sweet vernal
- Timothy
Ragweed is one of the most common summer allergy triggers. It can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind. So even if it doesn’t grow where you live, it can make you feel bad if you’re allergic to it.
Smog: It’s Worst This Time of Year
Summer air pollution can make your symptoms worse. One of the most common is ozone at the ground level. It’s created in the atmosphere from a mix of sunlight and chemicals from car exhaust. Summer’s strong sunlight and calm winds create clouds of ozone around some cities.
Critters That Sting Are More Active
Bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, fire ants, and other insects can cause allergic reactions when they sting. If you have a severe allergy, a run-in with one of them could lead to a life-threatening situation.
Insect bites usually cause mild symptoms, like itching and swelling around the area. Sometimes they lead to a severe allergic reaction, though. Your throat feels like it’s swelling shut, and your tongue might swell. You could feel dizzy, nauseated, or go into shock. This is an emergency, and you’ll need to get medical help right away.
Tiny Things Grow in Warm Air
Molds love damp areas, including the basement and bathrooms. Their spores get into the air and set off an allergic reaction.
Microscopic insects called dust mites peak during summer. They thrive in warm, humid temperatures and nest in beds, fabric, and carpets. Their residue can get into the air and set off sneezes, wheezes, and runny noses.
What Are Summer Allergy Symptoms?
They’re pretty much the same as those that troubled you in the spring:
How Are They Diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and allergy history. They may suggest treatments.
Or they might refer you to a doctor who specializes in treating allergies for a skin test. This allergist will expose a small spot on your arm or back to a tiny sample of allergen. If you react, a small red bump will form. A blood test can also diagnose allergies.
How Are Allergies Treated?
Over-the-counter medications include:
If over-the-counter remedies don’t help, your doctor may recommend a prescription medication:
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs)
- Ipratropium bromide nasal spray (Atrovent)
- Immunotherapy — you’ll get tiny doses of allergens in the form of shots, tablets, or drops.
To treat insect stings or bites:
How to Make Allergy Season Easier
Take some simple steps to avoid your triggers.
- Stay inside when the pollen count and smog levels are high.
- Keep your doors and windows closed. Run your air conditioner to keep allergens out. Use an air purifier.
- Clean air filters in your home often. Also clean bookshelves, vents, and other places where pollen collects.
- Wash bedding and rugs in hot water to get rid of dust mites and other allergens.
- Wash your hair, shower, and change your clothes after you go outside.
- Vacuum often and wear a mask. The process can kick up pollen, mold, and dust trapped in your carpet. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Wear a mask when you mow your lawn to avoid grass pollen.
- Keep the humidity in your house between 30% and 50% so dust mites won’t thrive.
Seasonal Allergies: A Month-to-Month Guide to Your Allergies – Manhattan Allergist | New York Allergy Doctor
Do you experience allergies year-round? Or, do your allergies seem to flare up for just a few months out of the year?
Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, skin rash, runny nose, wheezing, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes, among others. You may associate your symptoms with “allergy season,” but what does that mean? Many people think that “allergy season” only occurs in the spring months when pollen is in the air. In reality, however, there is no one single “allergy season” that applies to all people with allergies. It really depends on what you are allergic to and where you live.
Someone with an allergy to tree pollen may experience allergy symptoms during the spring or summer when pollen is more prevalent, while someone with an allergy to dust mites may experience more symptoms during the cold winter months when more time is spent indoors. Your symptoms are related to exposure.
Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of when you’re most likely to come into contact with certain allergens:
January: Indoor allergens are more of a problem during the winter because more time spent inside your home also means increased exposure to things like dust mites, pet dander, and mold. You can reduce your exposure by eliminating these allergens from your home by keeping humidity below 40%, washing your bedding in hot water, and regularly vacuuming and cleaning your home. (Tip: your should use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.)
While it is relatively rare, some people may also experience cold urticaria, which is an allergic reaction to cold temperatures. It can cause hives, redness, swelling, and itching after you’ve been exposed to the cold.
February: Indoor allergens may continue to aggravate your symptoms in February. It is also possible to see tree pollen popping up around the U.S. in this month, even in the colder Northeast. Allergy symptoms may be caused by pollen from alder, maple, hickory, elm, and walnut trees, among others. Cedar trees also pollinate in the winter months (December through March). Tree pollen can cause the same allergy symptoms that are common in “spring allergies,” such as sneezing, congestion, and itchy, watery eyes.
March: With winter beginning to transition into spring, pollen will become more of an issue in March. In addition to tree pollen, pollen from weeds and grasses may also be an issue if spring comes early. Make sure you load up your favorite pollen tracker app onto your phone when March rolls around! Knowing the pollen count can help you plan your daily activities in an effort to reduce exposure to allergens (ex. exercising outdoors when pollen counts are low).
April: Make sure to make an appointment with your allergist and stock up on medications before April rolls around if you have a pollen allergy – April is the height of pollen production for many trees, grasses, and weeds. This can leave many people with seasonal allergies feeling pretty miserable. Remember to keep your windows closed to avoid letting airborne allergens into your home.
May: Tree and grass pollens are still a concern in May. You may also start to see more insects out and about, so stay alert if you are allergic to insect stings or bites.
June: Grass pollens like bermuda, oat, and rye are in full effect in June and can be affected by environmental changes, such as temperature and rainfall. If you haven’t experienced any symptoms from grass pollen yet, it’s likely you may start noticing symptoms during this month. As the temperature warms up you’ll probably want to spend more time outside, which means increased exposure to pollen. (Remember to check your pollen tracker app before you head outside.) You can avoid bringing pollen into your home by taking your shoes off at the door and changing your clothes as soon as you get inside. It’s also a good idea to shower before you go to sleep to avoid bringing pollen into your bed.
July: The month of July brings some good news with it: grass and tree pollen levels should start to reduce. Unfortunately, however, weed pollen may still be an issue and fungus and mold spores start to make an appearance. Mold spores can be found in damp environments, so check your bathroom and basement for any collected moisture or leaks.
August: Mold levels will begin to peak due to the hot, humid weather. Ragweed season also begins during mid August and it can be a difficult pollen to avoid – it has been found two miles into the atmosphere and 400 miles out at sea! The best course of action is to take your medications and avoid exposure.
September: Weed pollens continue to be a problem for allergy sufferers in September, and ragweed will reach its peak in the middle of the month. A single ragweed plant can produce billions of grains of pollen and some of that pollen might be around until the first frost of the season.
October: You might get some relief from your fall allergy symptoms during October, but there are still allergens hanging around. Increased rainfall can cause a growth in the production of mold spores.
November: Here’s something to be thankful for in November: ragweed season is on its way out! November is one of the better months for people with outdoor allergies as pollen levels decline during this month. However, as things get chillier and you once again start to spend more time indoors you’ll have to cope with mold, dust, and pet dander.
December: As in November and January before it, indoor allergies will be a concern in the month of December. Those with an allergy to dust mites may see more symptoms during December as holiday decorations are brought out of storage and anyone with an allergy to mold should be careful if they bring a living Christmas tree into the home as there could be mold spores on the branches.
Are you prepared for your own personal “allergy season”? The first step for preparing for allergy season is to be tested to learn what you are allergic to. Once you know what brings your allergy symptoms on, you can reduce or avoid exposure no matter what time of year it is.
If you have any questions about managing your allergies, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help! Feel free to give us a call at 212-729-1283 or email us at [email protected].
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The Ugly Truth About Summer Allergies | The Ugly Truth About Summer Allergies
Seasonal allergies can cause unwanted appearance changes
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (June 11, 2014) –As if a runny nose and red eyes weren t enough to ruin your warm weather look, summer allergies can gift you with even more than you’ve bargained for this year. In fact, some unusual symptoms can leave you looking like you lost a round in a boxing ring.
“Summer allergies can cause severe symptoms for some sufferers, and can be just as bad as the spring and fall seasons,” said allergist Michael Foggs, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Symptoms aren’t always limited to the hallmark sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes. Black eyes, lines across the nose and other cosmetic symptoms can occur.”
Even if you’ve never before had allergies, they can suddenly strike at any age and time of year. You might want to consider visiting your board-certified allergist if these undesirable signs accompany your sniffle and sneeze.
- Allergic Shiner: Dark circles under the eyes which are due to swelling and discoloration from congestion of small blood vessels beneath the skin in the delicate eye area.
- Allergic (adenoidal) Face: Nasal allergies may promote swelling of the adenoids (lymph tissue that lines the back of the throat and extends behind the nose). This results in a tired and droopy appearance.
- Nasal Crease: This is a line which can appear across the bridge of the nose usually the result of rubbing the nose upward to relieve nasal congestion and itching.
- Mouth Breathing: Cases of allergic rhinitis in which severe nasal congestion occurs can result in chronic mouth breathing, associated with the development of a high, arched palate, an elevated upper lip, and an overbite. Teens with allergic rhinitis might need braces to correct dental issues.
According to the ACAAI, pollen, mold and insect stings are common allergy culprits during the summer months. But fresh produce, such as celery, apples and melons, can also cause allergy symptoms. This is known as food pollen syndrome, cross-reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables and some tree nuts.
“Summer allergy symptoms can easily be mistaken for colds, food intolerances or other ailments,” said Dr. Foggs. “If your symptoms are persistent and lasting for more than two weeks you should see your allergist for proper testing, diagnosis and treatment. Finding and treating the source of your suffering can also clear up other unwanted symptoms.”
Before turning to over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays for relief, allergy sufferers should speak with an allergist to ensure medication is right for them and enough to combat symptoms. For more information about seasonal allergies, and to locate an allergist in your area, visit AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org.
Allergies in Southern California | Southern California Allergy
Thanks to the pleasant Mediterranean climate of southern California, heavy jackets and snow pants do not dominate closet space. Instead, light sweaters and jeans keep residents and visitors comfortable year-round. Our mild winters and warm, dry summers also mean we do not get a winter reprieve from seasonal allergies. Something is always blooming here! The best months for allergy sufferers to breathe deeply are November through January, but even then, we sometimes see elevated pollen counts.
The New Year brings the start of elevated tree pollen levels, the intensity of which depends on rainfall amounts during the winter “rainy season” (still dry compared to most areas of the country). If we have seen a relatively wet winter, more trees, grasses, and weeds will produce and disperse pollen during the year ahead. The trees that cause the most problems January through May are ash, eucalyptus, mulberry, olive, oak, sycamore, and walnut.
Late spring/early summer welcomes grass pollen to the forefront of the allergy forecast. The grasses that cause the most issues include bermuda, blue, oat, rye grasses. Frequent lawn mowing churns everything up and throws the pollen into the air.
Fall finds the kids going back to school and the start of weed pollen season. Weeds that produce and spread problematic pollen include California sagebush, pigweed, elm, and Russian thistle.
Warm, dry, and windy conditions help spread any pollen released into the air throughout the year. Our periodic Santa Ana winds can blow warm, sometimes hot, air from the desert anytime between September and May. The winds blow hard for days at a time, exacerbating allergy issues by stirring up and carrying pollen, and dust hundreds of miles.
Living in southern California does not doom you to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) forever! If you experience persistent allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and congestion around the same time(s) each year for weeks or even months, you may be one of the many Californians battling seasonal allergies. Southern California Allergy will expertly guide you through the process of identifying your allergy triggers. Based on your allergens and symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will address your needs. Allergy medication can work wonders in some patients. Others choose oral immunotherapy, which builds up your body’s immunity to allergens over time. Come in to see us before your symptoms start for the season so we can help you win the allergy battle!
When Does Pollen Season End in Charlotte, NC?
Posted on: April 05, 2021
Many people love spring because it means longer days, warmer weather, and the end of a dreary winter. Except whenever you go outdoors, you start sneezing like crazy. Not only that, but your eyes get red and watery, your nose is runny, and you feel like you can barely breathe.
For many people, this is the reality of springtime. All those blooming plants and flowers mean pollen counts are especially high. If you’re in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, it may feel like pollen season will never end. After all, it’s almost Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, yet you can’t shake your sneezing and congestion. What gives? Allow us to explain everything you need to know about pollen season.
What Is a Pollen Allergy and What Are Its Symptoms?
A pollen allergy may include reactions to weed, grass, and tree pollens. No matter which type of pollen gives you the sniffles, it’s often powder-like and yellow in color. Plants and flowers need pollen to grow and thrive, and it can be passed along through animals, insects, and the wind, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
The most common type of pollen allergy is ragweed, also known as weed pollen. At least 23 million people in the United States have a ragweed allergy. Ragweed is a plant with multiple species. In fact, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), in the US alone, you’ll find 17 different species of the plant.
With a pollen allergy, you should anticipate symptoms like wheezing, scratchy or itchy eyes and throat, watery eyes, a runny and leaking nose, congestion in the face and throat, and sneezing. These symptoms are almost identical to those of a ragweed allergy. With that allergy, you may also have to contend with irritated eyes and headaches in addition to the above symptoms.
Pollen allergy symptoms will not typically begin until you are in an environment where the pollen counts are high. If you already have asthma, you need to be extra careful. Lingering in pollen-heavy environments can lead to wheezing and coughing.
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 we’re talking about. For ragweed pollen, for example, the ACAAI says ragweed starts growing in August and may not stop until November. For grass pollen, you’re 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.
When Will Pollen Season End in the Charlotte Area?
It is worth noting that pollen season start and end dates can fluctuate depending on where you live. The climate and weather conditions play a major role in pollen levels and when plants sprout and grow.
In Charlotte specifically, you’ll see the differences from the pollen allergy season we outlined in the above section, with general seasons including:
- Ragweed, which sprouts up in August and lasts until the first frost. That may be in November or even later, since Charlotte is typically warm. The most intense of the ragweed season is in September.
- Grass pollen season, which starts in the middle of spring, so sometime in April or May. It typically ends in September. The highest counts of grass allergies are in May through August, so the summertime.
- Tree allergy season, which if typically from March until June. April is typically when symptoms may ramp up most.
In the next section, we’ll go into more detail on each type of pollen, the seasons, and considerations allergy sufferers should keep in mind.
Types of Pollen in Charlotte and Their Seasons
In the Charlotte area, there are three common types of pollen that will affect you during the pollen season, causing different allergy symptoms: weed pollen, grass pollen, and tree pollen.
Weeds
Weed pollen most affects allergy sufferers from August through November or December.
Of all the weed pollens, the best-known one is ragweed – as evidenced by the high number of ragweed allergies discussed earlier. Common throughout the midwestern and eastern United States as well as other parts of the country, ragweed pollen does typically have a short season. However, for each ragweed plant, a billion grains of pollen can be produced. That means ragweed has a lasting effect long after the plant is gone.
Rural parts of Charlotte are most susceptible to ragweed, as this is where the plant grows most. That said, in atmospheric conditions, ragweed can travel up to 400 miles.
If you have been diagnosed with a ragweed allergy, it’s important to limit your outdoor time during ragweed season, especially between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on days when it’s not raining. Stay away from fields, vacant lots, riverbanks, roadsides, around farms, and on turf grasses, as ragweed may propagate here as well.
Grasses
Grass pollen typically affects allergy sufferers from April through September.
In Charlotte, there are several predominant grass types: Bermuda grass at 15 percent, tall fescue grass at 80 percent, and five percent of a mix of centipede, ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and zoysia grasses.
While any of the above grasses can cause allergy symptoms, with tall fescue grass, you may have a lesser rate of allergies. This is due to how these plants produce pollen, as they have to grow to at least 12 inches before they produce allergen-causing pollen in meaningful amounts. That can give you a longer period of relief.
Like ragweed pollens Grass pollens historically first appear in Charlotte in March, spiking in April and May. The pollen counts then recede for the summer and drop even further by September and October.
Trees
Tree pollen typically affects allergy sufferers from March through June.
The texture of tree pollen is different from other pollen types in that it’s quite fine. Since it weighs less, it can often travel farther.
There are certain tree species that could produce more pollen that cause your allergy symptoms. In North Carolina, these trees include:
- River birch
- American beech
- Hickory
- Oak
- Yellow poplar
Other types of common North Carolina trees that may cause allergies include:
- Magnolia
- Crepe myrtle
- Bradford pear
- Leyland cypress
- Sweetgum
- Red maple
- Loblolly pine
Willow, pecan, mulberry, elm, cottonwood, cedar, aspen, and ash trees may also contribute to higher allergy rates, although these trees are less common in Charlotte.
How to Avoid Pollen Until the Season Is Over
Whether it’s ragweed, grass, or tree pollens that trigger your symptoms, how do you safeguard yourself from allergy attacks this spring and summer? There are several ways you can go about it.
The first way is to keep track of the pollen count. CAAC has the only official pollen counter for our area. Our trained staff daily identifies specific pollens in the air and it is posted on our website. Knowing your specific allergy triggers and comparing them to the daily pollen count can help you plan your day.
See today’s pollen counts.
To be on the safe side, you might want to limit your outdoor activities on days with higher pollen counts. Otherwise, you’re risking exacerbating your symptoms. If you absolutely must go outside, then see an allergist before pollen counts get too high in Charlotte. This way, you can get the medication you need to prevent or treat symptoms as they occur.
You should also be smart about what times you go outside. Pollen will start falling and spreading in the air sometime at 5 a.m. to about 10 a.m. Going outside in the morning (again, if you can help it) is probably not within your best interest. Plan outdoor activities for later in the afternoon or even early in the evening. It tends to stay lighter longer in the summer, so you can still enjoy fun in the sun.
Find Better Ways to Handle Spring and Summer Allergies with Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center
If you want to take charge of your allergies this spring and summer, consider visiting Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center. We have a dozen offices across Charlotte and beyond. We provide care for all kinds of allergies, not just pollen. Other conditions you can receive treatment for are latex insensitivities, allergic skin disorders, sinus disease, insect allergies, drug allergies, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and anaphylaxis. If you need more information or want to set up an appointment, contact us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center today.
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How to deal with spring and summer allergies
Spring and summer may bring warm weather, but they also bring the infamous pollens and molds that prevent some people from enjoying the seasons. Here are a few things to know to prepare for coming allergy seasons.
What are the most common spring and summer allergies? How do the two seasons differ in terms of allergies?
The most common spring and summer allergies are the pollens and molds. The pollens come from various types of trees, grasses and weeds. In Chicago, the trees generally pollinate in March, April and May. The grass pollinates in May and June. The weeds pollinate from mid-August through the end of September. Outdoor mold starts creeping up at the beginning of June but really becomes a problem in September and October when the leaves are falling from the trees. The mold counts stay high until the first frost.
How can I protect myself and/or my child from these seasonal allergies?
During the pollen and mold season, we recommend jumping in the shower as soon as you get home every night to rinse the pollen off. Put cold, wet washcloths over your eyes and gently squeeze them to rinse the pollen out of your eyes. You may need to keep the air conditioner running through much of the season to keep the pollen out of the house. We never recommend staying indoors all summer, however! We encourage everyone to spend time outside playing as a family.
Should I take or give my child over-the-counter preventative allergy medication, even if I don’t know if I/they have allergies?
The over-the-counter allergy medications are both safe and effective. Steroid nose sprays, such as Flonase, Rhinocort and Nasocort, may help your nose and eye symptoms even if you don’t have allergies. 24-hour antihistamines, such as Claritin, Clarinex, Allegra, Zyrtec, and Xyzal, will also help but typically only if you have allergies. It is safe and considered effective to use a steroid nose spray and 24-hour antihistamine together.
Do patients (or families) come to you with common misconceptions about allergies?
The most common misconception that we hear about allergies is that although someone is allergic to cats or dogs, their pet is hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog or cat. We understand how important pets are to families, however, and work with families on interventions that work best for the family.
At what point should I see a doctor, if I suspect I am suffering from seasonal allergies?
I recommend seeking the care of an allergist when the over the counter medications are not giving you the relief that you need.
What types of services for diagnosing and treating allergies can I find?
If you see an allergist at UChicago Medicine, we may recommend either skin or blood testing to diagnose your allergies. Depending on the results, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan that may involve medications or immunotherapy (i.e. allergy shots).
Anything else people should know?
Although we are located inside Comer Children’s Hospital, the allergy team treats both children and adults with allergies. In fact, you can make an appointment together with your daughter or son if you like!
When are Seasonal Allergies the Worst?
For many allergy sufferers, the term “seasonal” can be a bit misleading. While some bothersome allergens do, indeed, come and go as the seasons change, for some, there’s always a new crop standing by, ready to offend. For the unfortunate sniffling souls who are allergic to a wide variety of pollen, winter, spring, summer, and fall are all allergy seasons. Essentially, allergies are our immune system’s overactive response to pollen or other allergens that release histamines and cause the sniffling, itching, sneezing, and congestion that we’re all so familiar with.
Whether you find yourself reaching for the tissues as March turns to April or as July turns to August, here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what’s triggering your histamines and what you can do to alleviate your allergy symptoms.
January Allergens
If you live in Nashville, pollen is generally taking a much-needed break by the time the new year rolls around. However, if dust mites are your devils, then winter allergies can be just as worrisome and fall’s ragweed. To minimize the mites, use a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter, replace your furnace filter regularly, change your bedding twice a week, and encase your mattress and pillows with allergy covers. If that doesn’t do the trick, a good deep cleaning may help.
February Allergens
Believe it or not, down here in the South, tree pollen is back in business by the time that February rolls around. Not only that but the precipitation that covers the north in fluffy drifts of snow, becomes a soggy, slushy mess down here in Tennessee. As we all know, soggy messes breed mold and mold, for many, is a particularly nasty allergen. Odds are that it’s not the beautiful forsythia that has your nose on high alert, instead, it’s likely the Bradford pear pollen that’s setting you off.
March Allergens
As the world evolves from gray to green, other trees join the allergen stew in March. A great resource for allergy sufferers is the National Allergy Bureau. Before heading out into the wilds of your front yard, be prepared and know the pollen count.
April Allergens
April showers bring on major seasonal allergies. Welcome to peak season! Tree, mold, and grass pollen join forces in April to make life miserable. Take heart in the beauty of Tennessee spring and work to keep your glass half full. Or, make an appointment with an allergy clinic to get some much-needed relief from your symptoms.
May Allergens
Happily, tree pollen is starting to back off by the time May rolls around but Mulberry, Sycamore, and Walnut are still pumping out the pollen. Grasses, naturally are still in the mix.
June Allergens
While not much has changed by the time summer hits, grasses are still going strong and summer rainstorms can increase the mold levels. If you’ve been complaining about a summer cold for weeks, odds are you have allergies and it may be time to see a specialist.
July Allergens
Good news! By July, grass pollens are backing off but the hot and humid Nashville days are essentially petri dish for mold spores and seeds. If you keep a compost pile or a pile of grass clippings, you may want to limit the time you spend hanging around these mold-happy places. For the sake of your allergies and mosquito-borne illnesses, minimize areas where water can collect and breed all sorts of unpleasantness. To make matters worse, by July, Nashville’s air quality takes a dive. Summer air pollution and ozone clouds can make your symptoms even worse. Try to limit your time outdoors when pollutants and allergens are high.
August Allergens
Mold is still out there, but a new nasty takes the spotlight in August: ragweed. Weatherbug writes, “According to the Centers for Disease Control, ragweed, which is actually a flowering plant found near river banks, is the leading cause of allergies, with three-fourths of all sufferers allergic to it. This scourge of sneezers starts to pop up during the latter half of July. The Southeast is usually the first to be subjected to the ragweed pollen season, as it thrives in its hot and humid climate. By late August, ragweed rapidly expands its territory north- and westward, and residents throughout the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. will be feeling itchy and watery eyes.”
September Allergens
Ragweed, ragweed, and more ragweed! At this point, if you’re hitting the OTC nasal sprays pretty hard, it’s time to see a specialist. Overusing nasal decongestant sprays can cause “rebound congestion,” which is never a good thing. Basically, after a few days, the blood vessels in your nose that responded to the spray by shrinking, begin to crave the spray and swell even more as they await their next dose. Avoid becoming a spray addict and contact a specialist.
October Allergens
If you live in the north, October is generally a good time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. For those of us who live a little farther south, fall showers bring mold back into the picture and grasses that had been taking a little time off are coming out of dormancy for one last hurrah.
November Allergens
Happy Thanksgiving! At this point in the season, you’re probably starting to feel some relief. Although those bonus warm days can keep the ragweed and mold on your allergy radar, your histamines should be calming down right about now.
December Allergens
Fortunately, freezing winter temperatures should be working some Christmas miracles. Pollen is at an all-time low, but if you’re celebrating the season with a freshly-cut blue spruce, you may want to leave your new tree in the garage for a few days and then give it a good shake before introducing it to your household. This will help minimize any microscopic spores from unwittingly entering your house.
To find some long-term allergy relief, contact the allergy specialists at OAT today.
90,000 June allergies: how to relieve hay fever symptoms
08 June 2021 10:00
Photo: sverigesradio.se
Seasonal allergy (hay fever) is an allergic response of the body, which is referred to as the so-called immediate type.A characteristic feature of the disease is a clear (recurring at certain times of the year) seasonality. This period coincides with the flowering of various plants.
Blooming of birch, pine, spruce, willow, alder most often causes allergies in June. And among the herbs the most dangerous for allergy sufferers in June are plantain, nettle, sorrel.
Signs of hay fever have characteristic features – long-term painful wavy sneezing, redness and burning of the mucous membranes of the eyes, their swelling, discharge from the eyes and nose, unbearable itching in the nasopharynx, difficulty in nasal breathing.
For each type of flowering – there is a list of cross-allergens that should not be consumed by allergy sufferers:
Trees – apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum, carrot, kiwi, cherry, cherry, banana, potato, nuts, parsley , dill, celery, cumin.
Cereals – beer, kvass, cereals, legumes, tomatoes, corn, soy.
Herbs – cumin, chamomile, fennel, anise, sunflower seeds, coriander, capsicum, celery, dill, potatoes.
For example, if you are allergic to birch, then most likely you may be allergic to peaches, cherries, plums, etc. If you are allergic to wormwood, then you better not eat dill, celery, cumin, etc.
For people suffering from hay fever, during an exacerbation it is recommended:
– to leave the house less;
– keep windows closed;
– ventilate the room only in rainy weather;
– regularly carry out wet cleaning;
– wear sunglasses and a medical mask;
– take antihistamines – in accordance with the doctor’s prescription.
How to survive in the allergy season: the flowering calendar
During the flowering period, seasonal allergy occurs in every third Russian. “360” tells how to meet hay fever fully armed and maximally ease your well-being.
If, with the arrival of heat, your eyes begin to water, a runny nose and a cough appear, and for breakfast along with porridge – antihistamines, in the coming months you will have to be extra careful. Allergy to pollen, which is also called hay fever or hay fever, occurs during the flowering season in every third Russian.
“Calendar of suffering” allergy sufferer
The first thing an allergy sufferer should know is when the tree or grass that bothers him blooms. An approximate flowering calendar of plants in central Russia will help prepare in advance for the flowering of exactly “your” allergen.
What blooms in spring
Depending on the weather, alder and hazel, and sometimes poplar, may be the first to bloom in March. In April, wild and garden primroses are added to them: snowdrops, primrose, crocuses, hyacinths, coltsfoot, sometimes dandelions.Those who are allergic to birch, willow, elm, ash, maple pollen also sneeze.
In May comes the turn of garden honeysuckle, lilies of the valley, oak, pine, spruce, lilac, bird cherry, fruit trees and shrubs: gooseberries, currants, raspberries, – as well as plums, apple trees, pears, cherries. From the second decade of the month – cereals such as wheat, rye and barley. From the third – plantain, nettle, sorrel, acacia, mountain ash and celandine. Most trees can continue to bloom until early June.
What blooms in summer
Dandelion, plantain, cereals, sorrel continue to bloom in June.Yes, and wormwood, quinoa and other representatives of the Haze family begin to cause inconvenience to allergy sufferers. Rosehips, viburnum, cornflower and remontant strawberries and wild strawberries are dusting. Daisies, peonies, irises and lilies gradually bloom.
In the second decade of the month, jasmine and a mock-orange that smells like it bloom. In late June and early July, it is time for the linden tree. But in the middle of the month, the flowering of alder ends, and then of pine. But birch can emit pollen right up to the end of August.
In summer, most of the wild and forest flowers and plants bloom: clover, tansy, St. John’s wort, willow-herb, loosestrife, dung, buttercups, and so on.
Why sneeze in the fall
The main autumn allergen is the pollen of the same weeds: mari, quinoa, stag beetle, camels, hodgepodge and wildflowers, many of which bloom until frost.
Calendar of flowering plants of central Russia by months
Pollen monitoring
Using a number of sites or their mobile applications, you can track the concentration of pollen in real time. For example, the resource “Pollen Club” monitors dusting not only in Russia, but also in the world.The forecast is based on the indicators of well-being provided by the users of the service. Allergy Forecast shows a five-day forecast map, the names of currently flowering plants, and cross-allergy clues.
Photo source: Allergy Forecast website
The Allergotop website, created by practicing allergists and employees of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University, will show the comfort of the environment for allergy sufferers from Moscow, Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar , Perm, Ryazan, Stavropol and Tyumen.
Cross-allergy
Seasonal allergies are often associated with food allergies, which in turn can be persistent or only appear when active dusting begins. Therefore, at this time it is better to follow a hypoallergenic diet, that is, exclude from the diet foods that can aggravate allergic reactions. This table will help you adjust your daily menu.
Table of the combination of pollen and food allergies
How to calculate hay fever
There is an interesting method for calculating hay fever from the sum of effective temperatures.Measures to limit contact with pollen should be started as soon as the temperature first rises to + 5 ° C, and the probable flowering times are calculated from the sum of effective temperatures (t ° effective = t ° average daily -5 ° C). For birch to bloom, the sum of effective temperatures must reach 70 ° C.
Blossoming hazelnut – hazelnut
Prevention of hay fever
- If possible, it is worth leaving for another climatic zone during the flowering period.
- But going out of town is categorically not recommended: there the allergy is likely to only intensify.
- It is better to ventilate the room in damp calm weather.
- After coming from the street, it is better to take a shower.
- During an exacerbation, it is recommended to rinse the eyes and gargle several times a day.
Frequent washing reduces discomfort during flowering plants
The latest methods of treating allergies
Autolymphocytotherapy
This method is also called plasmapheresis. To put it simply, it is taking blood from a patient, purifying it of toxic components and returning it back to the bloodstream.That is, the patient is injected intravenously with his own blood lymphocytes, previously processed by a certain method.
Lymphocytes retain all surface receptors that carry information about the early encountered allergens. And with their further introduction, the patient develops immunity to these substances. Plasmapheresis, as it were, adapts the body to a meeting with an allergen. And as a result, an immunity to substances that previously provoked nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, skin rashes and other manifestations of allergies is formed.
The method of plasmapheresis will help to develop immunity to allergens
Specific immunotherapy
Specific immunotherapy is considered one of the most effective methods of prevention. It should be started several months before flowering. The patient is diagnosed with an allergen (for example, birch pollen) and injected with certain doses of drugs, which are based on the culprit of the disease. Gradually, the body gets used to the drug, the allergic person develops immunity, and during the flowering season he does not sneeze or cough, or the disease is mild.After three to four years of regular treatment, the susceptibility to allergies is minimized. It is believed that after three to five procedures, the patient will feel a significant decrease in allergic manifestations.
Birch catkins are the enemy of Russians sensitive to the pollen of this tree
Acupuncture
Another method that came to us from the East (from Ancient China) is acupuncture, in other words, acupuncture. On the skin, needles irritate biologically active points associated with various internal organs or body systems.By introducing needles at certain points, you can relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, and improve local blood circulation.
And injections also force the body to produce endorphins – hormones of joy, so a person does not feel pain. The course of treatment is 10 sessions. It is better to do them every day, as a last resort – every other day. The effect of one session lasts a day, but in the complex of 10 sessions they give such an improvement in well-being that some patients cannot be dragged into a fixing course later.
Acupuncture relieves allergic edema and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy belongs to the same group of effects.It is contraindicated in the acute period of allergy, but it is irreplaceable in the recovery period and during remission. Most often, methods such as darsonvalization are used – the effect on the human body with an alternating impulse current of high voltage and low strength. Electrophoresis is the injection of drugs with the help of a current under the skin, and sometimes halotherapy – “salt cave” is indicated.
Physiotherapy is another good way to reduce allergic swelling
Effectiveness of allergy treatments
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to completely recover from allergies, but following simple rules can significantly improve the quality of life.If you did not have time to prepare in advance for the flowering season or you have an allergy for the first time, then follow a diet, take antihistamines, try to avoid contact with the allergen. Get rid of carpets, keep windows and doors closed. If possible, install a special air intake on the window with an anti-allergenic filter. But it is easier, of course, to prevent the disease than to cure it. Be healthy!
Olesya Seregina
What can be an allergy in June and how to deal with it ForPost Sport
Pollinosis is an allergic disease caused by pollen and manifests itself in the form of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and bronchial asthma.
People with hay fever usually experience severe itching in the nose and eyes, watery eyes, paroxysmal sneezing, and nasal congestion. If you ignore and try to endure these symptoms, allergic rhinitis can develop into bronchial asthma. Also, a severe allergic reaction can lead to hives and angioedema.
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The main difference between pollinosis is seasonality, coincidence with the flowering period of certain plants. Before you go to the doctor with this question, try to understand at what time the allergy started and find out what blooms during this period.
Blossom Map
Time, variety of blooms and allergies, manifested to it, largely depends on the region. To understand what kind of allergy can be encountered in a certain place, there are special maps of the distribution of pollen. Online, you can keep track of where and when, as well as the intensity of the blooming of plants that cause allergies.
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Flowering calendar. June
The beginning of summer is the most difficult period for allergy sufferers, since it is at this time that the air contains an increased concentration of pollen.
What triggers allergies in June
Most often in June, blooms of trees such as:
• Birch
• Pine, spruce
• Willow
• Alder
Among the herbs in June, the most dangerous for allergy sufferers are:
• Plantain
• Nettle
• Sorrel
In addition to the above, allergies during this period can be caused by cereals, dandelions, as well as mold-type fungi: cladosporium and alternaria.
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Foods that should not be consumed with hay fever
Few people know that pollen allergy can cross with food allergy. Therefore, people suffering from hay fever need to monitor their diet.
Cross allergy
For each type of flowering – there is a list of cross-allergens that should not be consumed by allergy sufferers:
Trees – apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum, carrot, kiwi, cherry, sweet cherry, banana, potato, nuts, parsley, dill, celery, cumin.
Cereals – beer, kvass, cereals, legumes, tomatoes, corn, soy.
Herbs – caraway, chamomile, fennel, anise, sunflower seeds, coriander, capsicum, celery, dill, potatoes.
For example, if you are allergic to birch, then most likely you may be allergic to peaches, cherries, plums, etc. If you are allergic to wormwood, then you better not eat dill, celery, cumin, etc.
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What to do if you have a pollen allergy:
• Take antihistamines as directed by your doctor;
• Avoid contact with allergens;
• Try to walk in the morning, late evening and after rain – then the lowest concentration of pollen in the air;
• Ventilate the apartment at night and in rainy, calm weather;
• Wear sunglasses;
• When returning from the street wash your hands and face well;
• Do not bring bouquets of wildflowers and herbs to your home;
• Eat a hypoallergenic diet that includes cross-allergic foods;
• Moisturize the nasal mucosa.
What tests need to be taken to determine allergens
1. Blood test for IgE. In order to understand exactly whether there is an allergy and not to confuse it with another disease, they take a blood test for immunoglobulin E. It determines how many antibodies are in the blood. If their level is higher than normal, this may be a sign of an allergic reaction. The more IgE in the body, the more actively you are in contact with the irritant. But this analysis will not show what exactly you are allergic to.
2. Skin allergy tests. This is a quick and reliable way to identify your personal allergen. There are three types of skin tests used in modern medicine:
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• Scarification test. Several scratches are made on the arm, into which a specific allergen is introduced. After 15-20 minutes, a reaction develops and the doctor evaluates the result. If the scratch begins to redden, enlarge and itch, then the allergy is confirmed.
• Prik test. The principle is the same as scarification, only small punctures are made instead of scratches.
• Patch test (application). Allergens are glued with patches on the patient’s back and keep them for up to 48 hours. After that, the doctor evaluates allergic reactions to one or another component.
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Allergy in May: what can be, how it manifests itself and is treated
Seasonal allergy in May is most often caused by the fact that oak, birch, alder, ash and poplar bloom and pollinate during this period.Trees actively grow dusty at an air temperature of + 13 … + 15 degrees. At temperatures above +28, pollen production stops.
One of the most aggressive spring allergens in central Russia is birch pollen. Penetrating into the respiratory tract, dust particles cause allergic reactions in millions of people.
Pollinosis is a fairly common seasonal disease. According to statistics, one in five suffers from this ailment to one degree or another. Symptoms of “birch allergy” are the same in children and adults.The main one is discomfort in the eyes: they itch, watery, sensitivity to light arises. The eyelids also begin to swell and redden, allergic conjunctivitis may appear.
Another common symptom that can appear along with itchy and red eyes is an allergic rhinitis. The person feels stuffy, sneezes often, the nose becomes swollen, like with a cold. Sometimes there is even shortness of breath, sore throat and sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing.
Also, a skin allergy sufferer may experience a rash, urticaria, accompanied by unpleasant itching.
During the period of birch pollination, some patients complain of headache, general malaise, indigestion, weakness and decreased performance.
Distinguishing allergies to birch from other types of allergies is quite simple. Its symptoms appear when a person goes outside and subside when indoors. This type of allergy is especially pronounced in the morning hours, when the concentration of birch pollen in the air is maximum.
Well the level of birch pollen in the air is influenced by the weather and the time of day.
Sunlight increases pollen production. The most active birch in May is dusty in warm sunny weather at a temperature of + 13 … + 15 degrees.
Rain, on the other hand, reduces pollen production and purifies the air.
Strong wind blows off pollen, lifts it into the atmosphere and thereby reduces the concentration in the lower atmosphere. But moderate wind is the main carrier of pollen, including over long distances.
Allergy to birch can make life unbearable in May. During the period when nature comes to life and flourishes, the allergic person is forced to suffer from unpleasant symptoms.
Treatment of allergy to birch, doctors recommend starting with simple recommendations that will make life easier: do wet cleaning every day indoors, when going outside, use nasal sprays and sunglasses. Try to avoid walking in the morning and only ventilate the area in the evening.
Upon arrival from the street, immediately take off your outer clothing, wash yourself and wipe your hair and nose with a damp handkerchief.
Also in May, an allergy may appear to flowering lilacs and dandelions, some cereal grasses: ryegrass, bluegrass, timothy. In June, many allergy sufferers suffer from poplar fluff. In these cases, the doctors’ recommendations are similar. If you cannot independently identify the cause of the allergy, be sure to contact a specialist.
Seasonal allergy is a rather unpleasant thing.A person suffers not only from unpleasant external manifestations of the disease, but also becomes more apathetic and irritable. A timely identified cause will help protect against the allergen and reduce unpleasant effects.
90,000 What is hay fever and is it possible to get rid of allergies forever
Now, for example, meadow grasses are becoming a thunderstorm for allergy sufferers: mint, wheatgrass, timothy, hedgehog, foxtail, fescue. They bloom in May and June, then, in July, allergy sufferers will be able to breathe calmly for a while, but from the end of July and throughout the fall the third wave of hay fever will come, which will be caused by weeds – quinoa, cyclachene, goldenrod along with their formidable “leader “- ambrosia.Only in winter the hay fever will recede completely – until April or early May, when the first wave of seasonal allergy comes again due to the flowering of trees: birch, alder, hazel.
Now the city authorities are trying to protect the townspeople from hay fever as much as possible, mowing ragweed and other weeds before they begin to bloom. We asked the head of the SKAL Allergy Center Konstantin Lobanov how a person can protect themselves from hay fever or at least alleviate the symptoms of the allergy, and whether it is possible to finally get rid of the allergy.
How should an allergy sufferer behave during dangerous allergen blooms?
– If a person knows they are allergic to pollen, the most important thing is to avoid contact with the allergen that is causing the reaction. That is, to limit your stay on the street to a minimum, when you come home, close the doors, when ventilating the windows, hang wet gauze on them. Coming back from the street, change clothes, leaving the street in the far corner, wash, take a shower, before going to bed, be sure to wash your hair so that you do not inhale pollen from the pillow at night, which has settled on your hair during the day.If they know what exactly they are allergic to and the doctor gave recommendations on a hypoallergenic diet, should we exclude from eating foods that have cross-allergenic properties with the pollen of those plants that cause the reaction?
Can you give examples of these cross-allergens?
– For example, if a person is allergic to ragweed, and he ate fried sunflower seeds in January, he may have a severe asthmatic attack.Well, or drank tea with honey, and this same honey was collected on sunflower. It is necessary to exclude those products that have common properties with pollen of plants to which there is an allergy. In the case of ragweed, these are watermelons, melons, bananas, halva, kozinaki, sunflower oil, everything related to sunflower.
And if a runny nose has begun, very similar to allergic rhinitis, how to understand. What is it exactly an allergy, and not a cold?
– Pollinosis passes without temperature, coincides with the flowering time characteristic of various plants, as a rule, it is accompanied by itchy eyes, and may also be accompanied by a cough, rashes on the body.If in doubt, it is better to consult a specialist to figure it out. The doctor may order a blood test to confirm the presence of an allergic reaction in the body.
Let’s say the doctor has confirmed that it is an allergy …
– If a person for the first time that he has a hay fever, it is necessary to take samples in order to understand what exactly the reaction is. It is important to know that samples cannot be taken during an exacerbation of allergies and taking antiallergic drugs.
What are the current treatments for allergies?
– The best treatment is to avoid contact with the allergen. For example, if you are allergic to ragweed, then it is better to move to a region where it does not exist, for example, to Siberia. But this is a radical measure. I recommend limiting contact with the allergen, carrying out medication.
Is it possible to get rid of hay fever forever?
– Before, but this is a long process that takes 3-5 years.The treatment is called “Allergen-specific immunotherapy”, that is, the introduction of the allergen into the body to which there is a reaction, with a gradually increasing dose. The so-called allergen vaccination. Vaccination is the main treatment that cures the disease. It’s about the same here. The process, as I said, is lengthy. You need to regularly take medications or receive injections throughout the entire time. Not everyone has the opportunity to carry out long-term treatment. And it is not suitable for everyone, concomitant diseases may be a contraindication to this method.In addition, there is a limitation – treatment is possible from the age of five, not earlier. In any case, only a doctor should determine the methods of treatment. Do not self-medicate.
Recall that raids are being carried out in Krasnodar and the suburbs to destroy ambrosia. On Thursday, June 17, such an event took place in the village of Elizavetinskaya. The raid was attended by representatives of the Prikubansky District Administration, the Department of Agriculture, Rospotrebnadzor employees and representatives of gardening associations.More than 3 thousand hectares are planned to be harvested in the Kuban capital. These are the territories of cemeteries, parks and squares, city streets. About 70% of the land has already been cultivated, however, there are still places in Krasnodar that are not free from ragweed. Marina Maksimtsova, head of the agricultural department of the Krasnodar administration, noted that the allergenic weed grows on the plots that have been allocated for construction, but so far no work is going on there.
Spit on allergies, or How to live spring without tears
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Spit on allergies, or How to live a spring without tears
Spit on allergies, or How to live a spring without tears – RIA Novosti, 06/22/2021
Spit on allergies, or How to live a spring without tears
Warm weather and blossoming tree buds traditionally foreshadow not only the long-awaited warmth, but also problems for allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, the universal … RIA Novosti, 22.06.2021
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MOSCOW, March 31 – RIA Novosti. Warm weather and blossoming tree buds traditionally foreshadow not only the long-awaited warmth, but also problems for allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to your pollen problem. However, the correspondent of the site “RIA Novosti” talked with experts and found out which trees are most dangerous and how to make this difficult period of life easier for yourself.Symptoms and treatment Allergy to pollen and flowering can manifest itself with age, and those who seem to have never been predisposed to it, draws attention to allergist Vladimir Bolibok. However, children and adolescents are more susceptible to it. “Allergies may not appear immediately. This mainly occurs in boys at puberty and a little older, as well as in children of primary school age,” he explains. It is easy to distinguish allergies from colds: sneezing appears, itching in the nose and eyes, all this is accompanied by lacrimation.“It all starts as soon as a person goes outside, there are no such symptoms at home,” the specialist says. In the case of a pollen allergy, a person needs to see a doctor. “It is worth doing this in the off-season, because there is a vaccine for all types of pollen. You can completely cure it,” says Bolibok. In general, during the flowering period of the plant, you should reduce activity outside the house. The main thing is not to self-medicate. It can lead to sad consequences, and the condition will only get worse every year, the doctor warns.Follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor, if you have had one. In each case, the method of treatment is individual. Kovarny trees It is curious that trees usually bloom earlier than their leaves bloom, and can cause allergies already at this stage, emphasizes Dmitry Akhaev, General Director of Allergotop. “A typical example is” earrings “on a birch, they usually appear earlier than leaves on a tree. Dusting is possible only when the flowers are open, while the leaves may not be visible, and the vegetative buds are closed,” he notes.This is how almost all our trees “wake up”, for example, alder, hazel, elm, poplar, willow, ash. It should be borne in mind that pollen can appear in the air long before the beginning of flowering – this phenomenon is called “long-distance transport of pollen” and is associated with the transfer of pollen grains by air masses from those regions where flowering begins earlier. According to Akhaev, the main and strong allergens are birch, cereals and wormwood. “There are a lot of them. There is also ragweed, which is even stronger, but there is not much of it in Moscow,” the specialist reassures.According to Alena Gavrilenko, deputy head of the information and analytical department of the Mosecomonitoring State Budgetary Institution, Alena Gavrilenko, this year the first alder pollen, considered an allergen plant, was noticed in the capital’s air in January. “Such an early fixation of the pollen content in the Moscow air was associated primarily with the pollen clouds that the wind brought from warm Europe, then there was a slight decline,” says Gavrilenko. Now the concentration of pollen has increased dramatically. This is not surprising, alder, hazel and willow are blooming at the same time and vigorously, although the normal period of their flowering is a month later.“We can expect that other plants will bloom earlier. So birch, which is a powerful allergen, may bloom not at the end of April, but already in March. In May, we expect flowering of cereals: ryegrass, timothy, meadow fescue. the beginning of June, “- she points out. Schedule of flowering The Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection named the expected timing of flowering of plants and trees so that allergy sufferers can arm themselves with the necessary medicines in advance. For example, alder will bloom all March.From the end of March and throughout April, willow, poplar, ash and maple bloom. The oak will “connect” from mid-April until the end of the month. Grasses — Timothy, bluegrass, wheatgrass, fescue, ryegrass — will start a pollen attack in May and June. Dandelion will bloom throughout May, and plantain will bloom from mid-May to early July. Ambrosia and wormwood will bloom last, from July to August inclusive.
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society, moscow, mosecomonitoring, allergy
MOSCOW, 31 March – RIA Novosti. Warm weather and blossoming tree buds traditionally foreshadow not only the long-awaited warmth, but also problems for allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to your pollen problem.However, the correspondent of the site “RIA Novosti” talked with experts and found out which trees are most dangerous and how to make this difficult period of life easier for yourself.
Symptoms and treatment
Allergy to pollen and flowering can manifest itself with age and in those who seem to have never been predisposed to it, says allergist Vladimir Bolibok. However, children and adolescents are more susceptible to it. “Allergies may not appear immediately. This mainly occurs in boys at puberty and a little older, as well as in children of primary school age,” he explains.
It is easy to distinguish an allergy from a cold: sneezing appears, itching in the nose and eyes, all this is accompanied by lacrimation. “All this starts as soon as a person goes out into the street, there are no such symptoms at home,” the specialist says.
In the case of a pollen allergy, a person should consult a doctor. “It is worth doing this in the off-season, because there is a vaccine for all types of pollen. You can completely cure it,” says Bolibok. In general, during the flowering period of the plant, activity outside the house should be reduced.
20 May 2019, 03:28
The survey revealed the most common allergy among Russians
The main thing is not to self-medicate. It can lead to sad consequences, and the condition will only get worse every year, the doctor warns. Follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor, if you have had one. In each case, the treatment method is individual.
Insidious trees
It is curious that trees usually bloom earlier than their leaves bloom, and can cause allergies already at this stage, emphasizes Allergotop CEO Dmitry Akhaev.”A typical example is” earrings “on a birch, they usually appear earlier than leaves on a tree. Dusting is possible only when the flowers are open, while the leaves may not be visible, and the vegetative buds are closed,” he notes.
This is how almost all our trees “wake up”, for example, alder, hazel, elm, poplar, willow, ash.
It should be borne in mind that pollen can appear in the air long before the beginning of flowering – this phenomenon is called “long-distance transport of pollen” and is associated with the transfer of pollen grains by air masses from those regions where flowering begins earlier.
According to Akhaev, the main and strong allergens are birch, cereals and wormwood. “There are a lot of them. There is also ragweed, which is even stronger, but there is not much of it in Moscow,” the specialist reassures. According to Alena Gavrilenko, deputy head of the information and analytical department of the Mosecomonitoring State Budgetary Institution, Alena Gavrilenko, this year the first alder pollen, considered an allergen plant, was noticed in the capital’s air in January. “Such an early fixation of the pollen content in the Moscow air was associated primarily with the pollen clouds that the wind brought from warm Europe, then there was a slight decline,” says Gavrilenko.
Now the concentration of pollen has increased dramatically. This is not surprising, alder, hazel and willow are blooming at the same time and vigorously, although the normal period of their flowering is a month later. “We can expect that other plants will bloom earlier. So birch, which is a powerful allergen, may bloom not at the end of April, but already in March. early June, “she points out.
Flowering schedule
The Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection announced the expected flowering time of plants and trees so that allergy sufferers could arm themselves with the necessary medicines in advance.
For example, alder will bloom throughout March.
From the end of March and throughout April, willow, poplar, ash and maple bloom. The oak will be “connected” from mid-April to the end of the month.
Grasses — Timothy, bluegrass, wheatgrass, fescue, ryegrass — will begin a pollen attack in May and June.
Dandelion will bloom throughout May, and plantain from mid-May to early July.
Ambrosia and wormwood will bloom last, from July to August inclusive.
22 July 2019, 18:01
The flowering of birch does not make Muscovites happy.The Russian capital has turned into a red zone. Doctors mark the peak of birch flowering when the concentration of pollen in the air reaches its maximum values. The worst is for residents of Izmailovo, Sokolniki and Filevsky Park districts.
– This is how we insert, – shows the mother of the allergic person. – This is so that pollen does not pass into the nose. A little ticklish, a little unusual.
This is a triple protection filter, but even now it does not help. Neither take a walk, nor open a window.All the holidays they have to stay at home.
– It just got sick last night. Just a few minutes – the child was breathing and suddenly said: Mom, I can’t breathe. You shine a flashlight in the nose, and it is completely closed to a crack.
Artyom has similar symptoms.
– It all starts with conjunctivitis, the eyes float, then everything goes on to the nose.
In the most severe cases – asthma, Quincke’s edema, anaphylactic shock. All these are the consequences of birch flowering.
– It is birch that is characterized by completely insane concentrations of pollen.
One earring contains 5 million pollen grains. It’s hard to even imagine how many of them are on one tree – billions! The pollen is so small that it enters the ears, nose, mouth unnoticed by humans, penetrates not only through a medical mask, but even through the skin.
The peak of flowering of birch just falls on this week. The map shows: Moscow is now in the so-called “red zone”.This means that the concentration of pollen in the city is very high: 10 points out of 10! And the situation will only get worse in the coming days.
Nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. But allergy sufferers complain: now they have hay fever for some reason more severe than usual. And there is a scientific explanation for this. The lingering rains, which have been in Moscow for the third week already, are to blame for everything.
“It is not pollen itself that is dangerous, but an allergenic protein that is released from the pollen. And when there is a thunderstorm, when it rains, it is very actively released,” explains Pavel Baskakov, head of the Pollen Club project.
– That is, it is a big misconception when they say that rain beats pollen and everything is fine?
“Yes, this is a big mistake. Especially if we say that it is not just rain, but a thunderstorm,” emphasizes Pavel Baskakov.
The protein contained in birch pollen is similar to that found in nuts and all stone fruits: apple, pear, plum. And if a person suffering from hay fever now eats in addition one of these fruits, he will develop a cross-allergy.And this is a double blow to the body.
“It can manifest itself not only with skin rashes, dermatitis, urticaria and symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract: dyspepsia, pain, but in these cases anaphylactic shock can develop,” warns allergist-immunologist Nadezhda Login.
Therefore, allergy sufferers are now advised to follow a strict diet and be patient. Earrings have not even appeared on many birches yet. Due to the cold spring, the spring dust season in 2021 will last longer than usual.And it won’t end until June.
.