How severe will your allergies be this spring?



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Tree pollen is the main cause of seasonal allergies in the spring. Getty Images

The allergy season is there even if you do not see a lot of pollen or feel the warm spring air.

In Atlanta and Philadelphia, the amount of tree pollen in the region has reached very high levels, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology ( AAAI).

And it's not just the eastern part of the country that has pollen problems. Las Vegas has a high concentration of tree pollen and weeds despite being in the desert.

So, what affects the allergy season? In part your winter time. The weather throughout the year can have an impact on the severity of the allergens.

"The milder winters continue to affect spring allergies. Trees are able to pollinate earlier and longer, prolonging the allergy season by weeks, "said Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of the American Foundation for Asthma and Allergy, Healthline .

Climbing temperatures mean that plants can begin to flower earlier and at the same time after a harsh winter.

"The winter and early spring conditions were milder than average," said Stacey Galowitz, DO, certified allergist at ENT & Allergy Associates of Somerset, New Jersey.

Tree pollen is usually the first allergen in the spring, followed by grbad pollen in late spring and early summer, then weed pollen in the fall, Galowitz explained. Tree pollen usually begins at the end of winter (late February / early March) and can last until late spring (late June). May is particularly embarrbading for people because grbad pollen starts to peak while tree pollen is simultaneously high.

Pollen levels seem to be increasing worldwide, and climate change is affecting weather conditions in general, which affects the allergy season, she noted.

A long winter can also mean that trees bloom later, but early spring means that there may be a sudden influx of pollen, as expected in the Midwest and Northeast, according to Accuweather.

Dr. Do-Yeon Cho, badistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, said it was important to know what you are allergic to soothing the symptoms. Consult an allergist or ear, nose and throat specialist to identify specific allergens. You can then treat them.

One way to prevent pollen exposure is to limit outdoor exposure during periods of high pollen counts. Quality air filters in your home can also help you, such as High Efficiency Particle Absorption Filters (HEPA).

Cleaning your home, especially washing your bedding in soapy hot water and drying clothes indoors, are also ways to reduce pollen in your home.

When going out and back inside, change clothes to reduce the risk of spreading pollen on the fabric inside.

Starting taking allergy medications now – even if you do not have symptoms but know you will – is a good thing to do. It can prevent your body from releasing chemicals, including histamines, that cause allergic symptoms, Cho said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, there are not many new ways to relieve allergies," said Galowitz.

While there are many options for treating allergies – such as antihistamines, steroid-based nasal sprays, and antihistamine nasal sprays – this remains the gold standard for allergy sufferers is the vaccine against cancer. Allergy or allergen immunotherapy. Injections work by exposing the immune system to low doses of allergens.

"Some pollen, such as grbad pollen and ragweed, can be treated with oral medications, but allergy shots are more effective for tree pollen," she said. she added.

Nasal steroids, available over the counter, are the best medicine when used regularly in the pollen season, said Galowitz.

"It's best used when it starts before the pollen season, around the first of March," she noted.

Nasal steroids can be used alone or in combination with non-sedating oral antihistamines. Eye drops of ketotifen are also available without prescription to treat eye related symptoms, but tell an allergist first what drug or combination is best for your situation.

Another way to treat allergies without medication or in combination with a drug is to rinse the nasal pbadages with saline. This directly evacuates mucus and allergens from the nose and can provide some relief.

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