Brace Yourselves: Spring Allergy Season Is Coming. Here ’s What to Expect and How to Handle It

A swath of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, which had been continuously pummeled by winter storms — even in April — will be graced with warm weather later this week. After a seemingly interminable winter, its’s a chance to dig out lighter clothing and head outside into the sun. But, if you’re one of the roughly 7% of U.S. adults with seasonal allergies, you may want to stay inside a little longer. With the change in seasons comes spring allergies (followed by summer allergies). Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming allergy forecast. Is it going to be a bad allergy season this year? Predictions are mixed, but it could be. Some experts have suggested that because of the Northeast’s prolonged winter, tree pollen allergy season may be shorter, but more intense. However, Dr. Rachel Miller, director at the division of pediatric allergy, immunology and rheumatology at Columbia University Medical Center, said there are lots of factors at play – including tree species and precipitation levels (which tend to clear out airborne allergens). “I don’t think there’s 100% certainty on this,” Miller says. “There would be a concern that because of the delay in pollination, the pollen will start to come down more at the same time, as opposed to being spread out over a longer period of time. So it may be shorter, but it may be more intense.” Yet that is difficult to predict, she says, because not all tree spe...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized allergies healthytime onetime Source Type: news