After a long, cold winter, spring has come! Baseball season, long walks in the park and getting out to garden or landscape are all enjoyable parts of the season. At the bottom of the springtime list, though are the allergies that come with all of the blooming trees, grasses and plants. Allergies are a big industry. For example, did you know $7.9 billion dollars are spent each year on health care for allergies1? With the below average temperatures we saw this winter, how does this allergy season stack up?
Sadly, for seasonal allergy sufferers, this year looks to be an unpleasant one. With only minimal warmups this winter, the trees have not started to pollinate until very recently. Since tree pollen typically starts in March2, the season has become compressed. As a result, more trees will start blooming at the same time, increasing the pollen count. Additionally, grasses, which usually start producing pollen in late April/May, will start up soon, further adding to the count. The grass and tree pollen season is typically over by July. However, mold and spore season then arrives with the hot and humid weather.
Fortunately, allergies are very treatable. By taking allergy medication before they start, wearing a mask and gloves while working outside and using the air conditioner while driving, you can breathe easy throughout the next couple of months. Our personal wishes that the allergies do not get in the way of the great weather!
1 - www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics
2 - www.unitedallergyservices.com/month-month-guide-allergies/
