Heavy winter rains are nothing to sneeze at

California experienced record rainfall this year  and may have even made headway against the state’s historic drought. Now that lush landscapes abound and spring is upon us, what does this mean forallergy sufferers?  The wet weather can be a harbinger of intense allergy-relatedsymptoms such as nasal drainage, sinus congestion, headaches and shortness of breath, according toDr. Maria Garcia-Lloret, an allergist withUCLA Health. It ’s not the rain that causes the symptoms, according to Garcia-Lloret, but the rain’s effect on trees, grass and weed pollen.For one thing, the increased plant growth following years of lackluster rains will cause the spore count in many areas to soar.  For another, raindrops can cause pollen grains to burst into smaller particles, which are then released into the air at a much higher concentration.UCLADr. Maria Garcia-Lloret“Because of the smaller size, the pollen can enter the small airways and noses of susceptible people and cause them to have an allergic reaction,” says Garcia-Lloret. Additionally,mold spores can increase after heavy rains, causing even more suffering for  people allergic to mold. Following a thunderstorm, mold is the main cause of allergic asthma exacerbations.The U.S. Geological Survey also has daily maps that show how early spring has arrived in states across America, and that can portend a more vigorous pollen season, according to aVox article.The common sneezing, drippy noses and itchy eyes experienced by both ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news