After hibernating for so long, many Canadians eagerly welcome the arrival of spring, with its warm weather and blooming foliage. But for others, the new season means wheezing and sneezing from all the rampant pollination.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, occurs when trees, grasses and weeds release pollen. Symptoms typically include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, runny nose, irritated throat and wheezing, and range from mild to severe depending on where you live, the time of year and weather conditions.
Predicting seasonal allergen counts
While no one can forecast pollen counts or the severity of allergy season, past and current weather conditions offer some clues to what you can expect if you suffer with seasonal allergies.
"It's been a weird winter," says Frances Coates, president of Aerobiology Research Laboratory, which supplies pollen reports to The Weather Network. "The sap was running, the trees were getting ready for spring, and then all of a sudden winter came."
The effects of a mild winter
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, our mild winter can mean an early start to the achoos as trees begin to pollinate earlier. The late freeze, however, can discourage a tree's pollen production.
So, where does that leave us? Coates says some pollens are definitely around early this year and that many species of trees that once pollinated a few weeks apart are pollinating at the same time.
"We're seeing quite a short and quick season early in the season," says Coates. "There will be a lot of different species of pollen in the air together."
While tree pollination kicks off the allergy season, grasses come along soon after -- in late spring and early summer. A rainy spring, says the ACAAI, nurtures grasses and can mean an increased pollen count. By August, ragweed moves on to the allergy scene, bothering nearly 75 percent of Canadians with hay fever, according to the Canadian Lung Association. Normally found in the eastern and midwestern parts of the country, ragweed's pollen count increases with warmth, humidity and wind.
Controlling seasonal allergies
You can reduce the severity of hay fever symptoms by following these eight guidelines:
1. Stay indoors in the morning, when pollen is most active.
2. Wear a mask if you have a really severe allergy.
3. Use an air filtration system at home and air conditioning in your car.
4. Speak with your doctor about an appropriate allergy-coping program.
5. Watch pollen reports on The Weather Network - they can help you to use medication more wisely, says Coates.
6. Wear sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
7. Don't dry sheets or clothing outdoors.
8. Wash your hair and change your clothes after spending time outside as they can trap pollens that will then be released in the home, offers the Canadian Lung Association.
Trees, Coates explains, have cycles; one year they'll produce a lot of pollen and the next year they won't. While it's still a bit too early to release, Coates is working on forecasting reports that reveal which trees will have a high pollinate each year. Until then, keep the tissue handy.
Asthma triggers to avoid. Tackle indoor allergens that could wreak havoc on your respiratory system.
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