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On top of having to battle a global pandemic and maintaining hospital-level cleanliness, now we’re in the throws of pollen season. Whether you’re sneezing, wheezing, or coughing, we’ve taken some great information from multiple sources and put it together in one helpful article so you can better understand seasonal allergies and what to do when you’re a sufferer.

What are seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies are symptoms one experiences during the height of an area’s pollen season, which is the time during which area plants are dropping their pollen and the pollen is filling the air. During warm or hot seasons, the plants’ pollen season can last as long as the temperatures allow for it – the longer the warm weather permits, the longer the pollen season.

In spite of common misunderstandings that most flowers are the cause of seasonal allergies, it’s actually the smaller pollen particles from flowers that are smaller and more “insignificant” than showy flowers. (Bassett, p. 87) These will be trees, grasses, and weeds. Additionally, the smaller the particles, the easier their penetration into your sinus cavities and lungs. That means that the smaller pollen particles pack a mean punch and can do the most damage.

Shocking fact: one ragweed plant can produce up to one billion pollen grains in a single season! (Bassett, p. 87)

5 Day Allergy Forecast for Atlanta, GA (July 31 – August 4)

Fortunately, the pollen level will begin to fall by the middle of the week.

What plants should I look out for?

As a general rule of thumb, the following plants are known to cause seasonal pollen allergies:

• Trees:  Birch, Alder, Cedar, Hazelnut, Willow, Plane, Olive, and Hornbeam
• Grasses:  Ryegrass & Timothy
• Weeds:  Ragweed, Nettle, Mugwort, Goosefoot & Sorrel (1)

By type:

The primary pollen producers in the state of Georgia are:

• Ragweed
• Hay
• Grass

Secondary pollen producers include:

• Oak
• Cottonwood
• Elm
• Hickory
• Juniper
• Pecan
• Sycamore
• Walnut
• Willow (2)

How to manage seasonal allergies

Treatment and Management of Pollen Allergy (3)

• Learn what plants you’re allergic to and try to avoid the pollen from those plants if at all possible.

• Over-the-counter antihistamines will help the mildest symptoms of pollen allergies. However, a sudden influx of pollen may put your antihistamines to the test and you may feel they’re not working all of a sudden. As mentioned before, the influx of pollen grains (more like powder) will cause a sudden penetration of much larger quantities of pollen in the nasal cavities and lungs.

• For more severe symptoms seek the care of a reputable, board-certified allergist.

• Wear a mask when you mow the lawn. Shower immediately after mowing.

• Replace the air filters in your home regularly.

• Vacuum your home often and clean out your vacuum when you’re done.

• Do not dry laundry outside: pollen in the air will collect on them.

Footnotes:

Bassett, M.D., Clifford W. The New Allergy Solution. New York. Avery. 2017