What is triggering my allergies this time of year?
Late spring and early summer allergies mainly involve grass pollen. In the allergy world, we often think of Memorial Day as a reminder of peak grass pollen season. Northern pasture grasses like June/Kentucky Blue, Timothy, Orchard and Rye are commonly grown in the Midwest.
Best States for Allergies
Based on the AAFA data, the best states for people with allergies are: Utah. California. North Carolina.
A skin prick test, also called a puncture or scratch test, checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 different substances at once. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites and foods. In adults, the test is usually done on the forearm.
Allergens Around the State
Bermuda grass and ragweed can be found just about everywhere, and Utah is no exception. As for tree allergies, those can be more localized to certain regions of Utah.
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Symptoms of ragweed allergy are similar to those of other pollen allergies:
- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Nasal congestion.
- Headaches.
- Irritated eyes.
- Itchy throat.
- Oral antihistamines. Antihistamines can help relieve sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes. ...
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays. These medications improve nasal symptoms. ...
- Cromolyn sodium nasal spray. ...
- Oral decongestants.
Allergies may simply worsen with age because you've been exposed to the triggers longer, Parikh says. "It takes repeated exposure to develop allergies. It can take a while for the immune system to decide it doesn't like that allergen."
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Itchy nose.
- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Rashes.
- Hives (a rash with raised red patches)
- Stomach cramps.
- Vomiting.
Well, it turns out they were probably onto something! Sea air, which contains iodine, salt, and magnesium, encourages respiratory health and can reduce the symptoms of asthma, promote respiratory health, improve allergies and skin problems, and stimulate the immune system.
- Denver. CO.
- Provo, UT.
- Boise, ID.
- Portland, OR.
- Colorado Springs, CO.
- Seattle, WA.
- Salt Lake City, UT.
- Raleigh, NC.
What are the worst cities for allergies?
- Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- Wichita, Kansas.
- McAllen, Texas.
- Richmond, Virginia.
- San Antonio, Texas.
- Oklahoma City.
- Hartford, Connecticut.
- Buffalo, New York.
Skin allergies typically develop during childhood. However, it's not uncommon to suddenly develop allergies during adulthood. Immune system changes happen constantly, so the development of conditions like allergies is possible at any age.

- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Itchy, red or watery eyes.
- Nasal congestion.
- Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat.
- Postnasal drip.
- Cough.
- Facial pressure and pain.
Allergy blood tests usually screen for at least 10 of the most common allergy triggers, including dust, pet dander, trees, grasses, weeds, and molds related to where you live. They are also particularly helpful in diagnosing food allergies.
What Johnston and BYU Microbiology and Molecular Biology professor Scott Weber found out is that the humidity levels in arid climates such as Utah are generally too low to sustain dust mites—even when homes are made more humid with evaporative (swamp) coolers.
Spring allergies may start as early as February and continue until summer. Trees begin producing their pollen first, and then in mid-April, the grasses begin to pollinate. Grass pollen continues from spring, until early fall, with the worst months being May and June, followed by mid- August through September.
Ragweed Allergy Season
During the fall, the primary culprit for allergy triggers is ragweed, however, mold and dust mites are nearly just as common. Ragweed produces very fine pollen that typically grows from August through November.
ZYRTEC® antihistamines start working in just one hour, and can provide powerful, 24 hour relief of your ragweed allergy symptoms day after day.
For most people with frequent symptoms, nasal steroids are the best treatment. If your symptoms are more mild, an oral antihistamine may be enough. Both are available over-the-counter.
Most minor allergy symptoms can be treated with antihistamines, corticosteroids, or decongestants. Saline nasal rinses can be used for congestion-related allergy symptoms. Corticosteroid creams can treat skin rashes related to allergies. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment option for chronic allergy symptoms.
What can I drink for allergies?
- Nettle tea. Nettles are a natural remedy for allergic rhinitis. ...
- Kombucha. ...
- Lavender tea. ...
- Green tea. ...
- Rosehip Tea. ...
- Lemon water or lemonade. ...
- Beer. ...
- Wine.
Unknown Triggers
It is possible that you are not entirely sure what is triggering your allergy symptoms, which is why they are not going away. Allergy triggers include pollen, molds, animal dander, and food.
Are allergies a sign of a weak immune system? God, no. If anything, it's the opposite. Allergies are caused by your immune system responding too strongly to something innocuous.
Warm temperatures push pollen into the air, but cooler evening air means that pollen falls back down to cover outdoor surfaces at night. If you collect pollen (or other allergens) in your hair or clothes over the course of the day, it can cause bedtime allergy symptoms once you're in for the night.
Our immune system will get exposed to new items and lose exposure to others. New allergies may develop, while older allergies improve. So, to summarize, no the allergies do not change after a set number of years (5 or 7), but they do change based on people's exposure to different environments.
- a runny nose or sneezing.
- pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead.
- coughing, wheezing or breathlessness.
- itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
- diarrhoea.
- feeling or being sick.
- swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat.
- Perfumes used in soaps, moisturizers, and cosmetics.
- Preservatives and antibacterial chemicals added to liquids.
- Chemicals that add thickness or color.
- Formaldehyde resin in nail care products.
- Sunscreens found in moisturizers, lip balms, and makeup.
- Pollen. ...
- Mold. ...
- Dust mites. ...
- Medications. ...
- Latex. ...
- Insect stings. ...
- Cockroaches. ...
- Perfumes and household chemicals. People who are sensitive to chemical scents found in perfumes, air fresheners, room sprays, and other household chemicals may have an allergic reaction when exposed to these products.
Pollen, mold and grasses may differ from one location to another, but the allergens that trigger a reaction may follow you wherever you go. Additionally, if you relocate to another region, you may be exposed to a new set of allergy triggers.
According to the Lung Institute, ocean air improves lung function, thins mucus and reduces coughing in individuals with lung disease and/or breathing issues.
Which country is best for allergies?
1. Riga, Latvia Allergy Friendliness Score: 9.52. Riga, the capital city of Latvia, tops our chart as the best place for allergy sufferers to visit. The very pollution is combined with low rates of asthma and wheezing, resulting in an excellent Allergy Friendliness Score of 9.52.
- Durham, NC, with a total score of 37.56 out of 100.
- Seattle, WA, with a total score of 41.95 out of 100.
- Provo, UT, with a total score of 42.61 out of 100.
- Salt Lake City, UT, with a total score of 44.95 out of 100.
- San Jose, CA, with a total score of 45.12 out of 100.
Dust mites need moisture to survive and multiply, and the reduced humidity of a higher elevation can help keep them at bay. A dry climate is also favorable for people with pollen allergies since pollinating plants need water to grow and spread.
Beaches and mountains are excellent year-round destinations for allergy sufferers. Ocean breezes are generally free of allergens, dust mites are fewer at elevations above 2,500 feet, and mold spores can't survive in snow. Check weather and pollen forecasts and plan accordingly.
The desert is often a place people consider moving closer to when they suffer from allergies. The reasoning is there are fewer pollen-releasing plants, meaning less likelihood of allergies, such as hay fever causing problems.
While allergies indicate that the immune system is not functioning correctly, a group of researchers' suggests otherwise. They argue that these allergies could be the body's mechanism of getting rid of toxic substances and that allergies are indicators of strong immune systems.
By A. Pawlowski. Johanna Watkins, 30, is allergic to almost everything and everyone, including her husband Scott, 29. She's been diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome, a rare and progressive immunological condition that has forced her to live in isolation in their home, in Minneapolis.
Can allergies be cured? Allergies can't be cured, but symptoms can be controlled using a combination of avoidance measures and medications, as well as allergen immunotherapy in properly selected cases.
Diatomaceous earth (opens in new tab) is a natural fine powder made from silica rock that you can sprinkle on surfaces where dust mites live (beds, pet beds, furniture, carpets...) to kill them. It works by piercing their exoskeleton as they pass through it, which will kill them instantly.
Sprays and aerosols containing syngergized pyrethrins should kill mites immediately on contact, though the treatment will only remain effective for up to a few hours. Insecticide sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin are effective against many mites and should retain their killing properties for several weeks.
How do I test my house for dust mites?
Ventia™ Rapid Home Allergen Test for Dust Mites - YouTube
Skin Prick Test (SPT)
Skin tests can be the most accurate and least expensive way to confirm allergens. SPT is a simple, safe and quick test, that gives results within 15-20 minutes.
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Preparation for Allergy Testing
- Do not take Claritin, Clarinex, Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra for 7 days prior to the allergy test.
- Do not take over the counter antihistamines (Benadryl, cold & sinus medications, sleep aids such as Tylenol PM) 7 days before the test.
Class 3: High level of allergy (3.5 KUA/L – 17.4 KUA/L) indicative of high level sensitization. Class 4: Very high level of allergy (17.50 KUA/L – 49.99 KUA/L) indicative of very high level sensitization. Class 5: Very high level of allergy (50.00 KUA/L – 99.9 KUA/L) indicative of very high level sensitization.
Spring allergies may start as early as February and continue until summer. Trees begin producing their pollen first, and then in mid-April, the grasses begin to pollinate. Grass pollen continues from spring, until early fall, with the worst months being May and June, followed by mid- August through September.
Ragweed produces very fine pollen that typically grows from August through November. Though it grows heavily in Midwest and Eastern parts of the U.S., the light pollen can travel far when carried by the wind. The peak pollen count for ragweed tends to be mid-day in the highest is time of mid-September.
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Symptom check: Is it COVID-19 or seasonal allergies?
Symptom or sign | COVID-19 | Allergy |
---|---|---|
Itchy nose, eyes, mouth or inner ear | Never | Usually |
Sneezing | Rarely | Usually |
Sore throat | Usually | Rarely |
Runny or stuffy nose | Usually | Usually |
- Pet dander.
- Dust.
- Dust mites.
- Mold.
- Cockroaches: feces and shells left behind.
- Rodents seeking shelter from cold weather bring dander, droppings, urine and parasites that may trigger allergy symptoms.
Winter allergies are often “perennial allergies”,1 meaning they can take hold at any point in the year, rather than being restricted to the spring, summer and fall. Allergies stemming from cold weather are not triggered by pollen but by culprits such as mold spores, mildew, dust mites and pet dander2.
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Symptom | Cold | Allergy |
---|---|---|
Sneezing | Usually | Usually |
Sore throat | Usually | Rarely |
Runny nose | Usually | Usually |
Stuffy nose | Usually | Usually |
Is hayfever worse this year 2022?
2022 pollen outlook
Yolanda said: “In terms of the numbers of pollen grains in the air, what we're seeing isn't especially noteworthy compared to what we've had in previous years. However, the potency of these pollen grains could be more intense this year, and that comes down to the weather we've had in spring.
What Johnston and BYU Microbiology and Molecular Biology professor Scott Weber found out is that the humidity levels in arid climates such as Utah are generally too low to sustain dust mites—even when homes are made more humid with evaporative (swamp) coolers.
Treat Ragweed Allergies
For most people with frequent symptoms, nasal steroids are the best treatment. If your symptoms are more mild, an oral antihistamine may be enough. Both are available over-the-counter.
The ZOE COVID Study found that sneezing is an increasingly common symptom of COVID-19. The study found that sneezing is the fourth most common reported symptom associated with omicron.
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Itchy nose.
- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Rashes.
- Hives (a rash with raised red patches)
- Stomach cramps.
- Vomiting.
- runny nose.
- cough.
- sore throat.
- fever.
- headaches.
- muscle pain.
- fatigue.
Allergies may simply worsen with age because you've been exposed to the triggers longer, Parikh says. "It takes repeated exposure to develop allergies. It can take a while for the immune system to decide it doesn't like that allergen."
Allergies can cause all kinds of unpleasant, distracting symptoms, from digestive upsets and headaches to respiratory trouble and runny eyes. However, you may also have experienced another few hallmark symptoms of allergy problems: fatigue, drowsiness, and mental sluggishness.
It's not always clear why some people develop sudden allergies later in life. Genetics may play a role, as might changes in adult immune systems. Adult-onset allergies occur most often for people in their 20s and 30s, though it's possible to develop allergies at any age.