IAQ Blog

Billions of pollen spores blowing from a single cedar tree.

Are you feeling like this is the worst your allergies have been in a long time — the worst, hands down,” “It’s like the worst cold you’ve ever had that just won’t go away with cold medicine? You’re suffering because spring came late, doctors are saying. Parts of the country that were covered in snow just a few weeks ago suddenly are seeing record warm temperatures, and all the different trees, flowers and grasses are “sharing their love” at about the same time.
“Right now, it’s a very bad pollen season for people with pollen allergies,” From Dallas to Delaware, the pollen is thick. In Jackson, Miss., they’re watching it blow from the trees.
“You’re exhausted, you’ve got congestion, you can’t breathe very well,” these are all common symptoms from allergy sufferers. “You don’t want to go outside because your eyes itch, your nose is all runny, headaches. It’s horrible.  ” What’s Happening? Early every morning, scientists in Marietta, Ga., pull a white box down from the top of a building and count the pollen inside. Anything more than 120 particles per cubic foot is considered extremely high. On one day, they found 5,733 particles, the  highest in years and just short of an all-time record. The next day, they found 5,495. Keeping track of such pollen counts through news reports or online sources is important to stay on top of your allergies. This is the time of year when allergy sufferers are hit the hardest, but scientists insist this year is special.

“The pollen this year is out in full force,” said Amanda Campbell, a botanist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. “And a couple of reasons for that … [are that] there was a very cold long winter … [a] relatively wet year last year, very wet winter in many parts of the country and now we have a compressed bloom season.”

In addition to swinging temperatures, the experts blame the heavy rains that have drenched the North and Southeast. In general, pollen counts tend to be lower immediately after rainfall, but those areas seem to be teeming with pollen right now.
“It’s a reproduction explosion right now with pollen everywhere,” Campbell said. “That’s the key, is the concentration of the pollen that’s out there right now. That’s what makes this year unique and probably a little harder on people than maybe the past couple of years.”

Staying Allergy Free
Despite the nice weather, doctors are telling patients with severe allergies to stay indoors. “Stay in air conditioning,” Fineman said. “Make sure they wash their hair before they go to sleep at night, because pollen can collect there. … You don’t want to leave the clothes you wore outside in the park in your bedroom. And also, we do recommend you leave your shoes either outside, you know, or inside the door and take them off when you come inside, so you don’t trek the pollen throughout your house.”
Plants release the most pollen in the morning. It’s best to keep the windows closed as you’re getting ready for the day. Unless you have PollenTEC screens installed in your windows. PollenTEC screen material blocks up 100% of pollens from entering your home.

“[Allergy sufferers] should use air conditioning in an attempt to keep the pollen counts in their home as low as possible; using a PollenTEC Eco Allergen air filter will help clean your indoor air quickly. There are also other treatment options. Nasal sprays and antihistamines can help depending on the allergies and the time of day. But doctors say patients should start using them early and continue using them throughout the pollen season.

Taking the right allergy medication a few weeks before the anticipated allergy season can prevent much of the misery once the season hits its peak, said Dr. Michael Foggs, chief of allergy and immunology at the Advocate Medical Group in Chicago. But don’t pass on the medication on days when the pollen subsides.

You can find PollenTEC products at www.pollentec.com or call for information at 480-650-3460.