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.

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.

Ragweed counts usually peak in early midday, while grass pollen counts are higher in late afternoon and early evening. Plan your workouts for other times of the day when levels are lower. If you're in an urban area, winds can bring the pollen in town so that levels peak around midday.

Environmental factors play an important role in allergy symptoms. Increased pollution, air quality changes and outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores can create a perfect storm for heightened allergic responses.

The months that register a higher pollen count are April, May and September. With the onset of winter, the pollen density drops away although allergy sufferers can still be affected by indoor allergens, such as dust, pet dander or mould spores.

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.

However, there are also antihistamine nasal sprays that can relieve nasal symptoms. Antihistamine eye drops can help relieve eye itchiness and irritation. Oral antihistamines available without a prescription include loratadine (Claritin, Alavert), cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy) and fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy).

Grazax® is used to reduce allergic reactions to grass pollen. We might recommend this treatment if: you have a severe allergy to grass pollen. your other medicine does not control your symptoms well.

What mimics hay fever? ›

Overview. Nonallergic rhinitis involves sneezing or a stuffy, drippy nose. It can be a long-term problem, and it has no clear cause. The symptoms are like those of hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis.

But to make matters worse, we're in the midst of one of the worst cold and flu seasons in recent years. Which raises an interesting question – do allergies weaken our immune system, and are those who suffer from allergies thus at greater risk of getting sick? The short answer to that question is yes.

Pollen: Rain prevents pollen from traveling and can be a relief for some people with this common allergy. However, it can also increase pollen exposure when pollen is broken into smaller particles. Pollen counts also sometimes increase significantly right after rainstorms.

Masks provide enough protection to block common allergens, including pollen, dust mites, and mold. However, they're not an effective choice for all seasonal or other allergies. Any mask can help reduce allergy symptoms, but surgical masks are often the best choice.

Studies have shown that children who grow up in rural areas, where they are more likely to be exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis, have fewer allergies than kids who play primarily indoors in an urban or suburban environment.

Oak trees, especially Bluejack Oaks are a severe allergen for Floridians. These trees are common throughout residential areas and parks — so the pollen potential is very high. Oaks cause real seasonal suffering for people with oak pollen allergies because the trees have a long period of pollen production.

Worst Cities and States for Allergies

States that have a lot of trees, grass, and weeds will have a lot of allergens. Areas in the Northeast U.S. like Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. Virginia, Kansas, and Texas have a high rate of allergens.

Due to the warm and rainy climate, plants thrive in Florida throughout the year. Without colder months during the winter, there is no break in pollen allergies for those living in Florida.