Pollen count today | Stay 1 step ahead of your hay fever (2024)

FAQs

What pollen is high today near me? ›

On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.

Weather changes can affect pollen levels, which in turn affect allergy symptoms. With warmer temperatures, comes an increase in spring pollen levels. Changes in air pressure also have an effect, as the amount of pollen that moves from the upper to the lower atmosphere varies based on air pressure.

Highly sensitive individuals can suffer hayfever symptoms even when the pollen count is low. When the pollen count is high, most people sensitised to the pollen are likely to have symptoms. Symptoms of hayfever include: Itchy nose, with or without itchy ears, throat and eyes.

They're called "seasonal allergies" because each type of pollen has a season where they're most potent. Here's a general timeline of common pollen seasons: March through June is tree pollen season. June, July, and August is usually when the grass pollens are high, sometimes into September in a warm year.

Cities in Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma and the Carolinas dominate the list of worst places for allergies. Dr. Nana Mireku, an allergist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said “people are pretty miserable right now and allergists are pretty busy.”

Many people use antihistamines to treat allergy symptoms. Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine) are two popular brands. They contain different compounds but appear to be equally effective. Antihistamines can reduce allergy symptoms, such as watering eyes, itchy skin, hives, and swelling.

Common allergens that can trigger hay fever symptoms include pollen and dust mites. Tiny flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, and other animals with fur or feathers (pet dander) also can be allergens.

Some older adults might find their allergies getting worse with age. This is likely due to a decline in organ function and the development of long-term health conditions. Both of these can affect the incidence and severity of allergies.

Allergies can worsen over time because, as you age, your immune system changes. Sometimes it can become intolerant to allergens it used to tolerate. Seasonal allergies can also be worse due to climate change. Climate change has lengthened pollen season, making seasonal allergies last longer.

Why are allergies so bad right now in 2024? ›

Researchers predict these aren't outlier years, pointing to climate change as responsible for worsening allergy season. This past winter was the warmest on record across the continental U.S. Fewer days below freezing meant plants were able to bloom earlier and longer.

In some cases, over the counter allergy meds stop working because your body has built up a resistance to your usual remedy. However, it is far more common for other changes in your life or your body to be the culprit behind the change and your OTC allergy relief not giving you the results you are used to.

The opposite can be true, too: The pollen count might be low, but you might find yourself around one of the pollens that triggers your allergies. Through testing, an allergist can pinpoint which pollens bring on your symptoms.

Allergy fatigue, a common complaint among people with allergies, is an intense sense of tiredness and lack of energy often associated with the body's reaction to allergens. This feeling of exhaustion is not merely a result of poor sleep quality due to common allergy symptoms.

Allergies generally indicate that the immune system is in a kind of overdrive, reacting to a whole host of things that don't actually cause any harm to the body. A little bit of animal dander, for example, poses no threat to the body; but, in allergy sufferers, the immune system basically believes that it does.

A key factor in this trend is the broader impact of climate change, which has led to milder winters and warmer early springs. Such conditions are conducive to earlier and more robust plant blooming, resulting in increased pollen production.

Because of Florida's warm climate, pollen levels are higher and in turn, the state experiences longer and more severe allergy seasons compared to the rest of the U.S., according to MD Now Urgent Care.