Allergists are sounding the alarm that a new season could soon be underway, but there are ways to help lessen its impacts.
Ragweed season typically starts in mid-August and peaks in mid-September before culminating with the first hard freeze of the winter, and the allergy is the bane of many residents during the late summer and early fall months.
Experts are saying the ragweed season could start even sooner this year, and climate change is at least partially to blame.
“Mostly it’s because of the changes that we’re seeing in our weather patterns and climate,” said Dr. Rachna Shah, the head of the Loyola Medicine pollen count.
Shah said allergy seasons have been starting earlier and lasting longer due to a warming climate, allowing for longer growing seasons for the plants that cause the allergens to flourish.
“What makes ragweed such an interesting plant is that the pollen from this plant is very, very tiny. It’s also very light and buoyant,” said Shah. “It can even travel like 400 miles.”
Symptoms include frequent sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery, or red eyes. Although exposure can be hard to avoid, Shah said there is something allergy sufferers can do now to lessen the burden.
“Starting things like a nasal spray early on can really help prevent that inflammation from getting out of control,” she said. “They decrease the inflammation inside of the nasal passages, and they take about a week to kick in. So, I tell patients who suffer from ragweed, this is the time to start it.”
Shah said pollen counts are higher in the morning, between dawn and 10:00 AM, so shifting outdoor walks and workouts to later in the day can help reduce exposure.
She also advises allergy sufferers to keep windows closed, and to wash clothes and to shower after time outside to get rid of the pollen.
“Having an understanding about what your allergies are and what your triggers are can be so helpful in deciphering how we feel,” said Shah.
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