Plants and Trees That Cause Spring Allergies.
The end of winter means a lot of things warmer weather, spring dresses, spring break but it also means the advent of spring allergies. Spring is the most common time of the year for people to experience seasonal allergy symptoms. As the weather gets warmer and plants start to bloom, trees and grasses release pollen into the air, triggering allergic symptoms in those with seasonal allergies.
Colorful flowers also bloom in the spring, and are often blamed as the cause of spring allergies. Beautiful spring flowers bring nothing but pain; the itching, the sneezing, the sniffling and watery eyes of spring allergies can make you miserable. Coughing is a common symptom of seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hayfever.
Seasonal allergy symptoms are triggered by outdoor allergens, ordinary substances such as pollen and mold. Never fear! Pollen is an especially common cause of allergies during the spring, when plants release these tiny particles that cause problems for so many people. By late summer or early fall, weeds, especially ragweed, are producing large quantities of pollen.
The term hay fever comes from the presence of symptoms during the present haying season, and technically, it’s called allergic rhinitis. Hay fever comes from the pollen your plants produce this time of year. Some plants are worse than others; ollow this guide for the plants to avoid if you suffer from spring allergies.
On hot, dry, windy days pollen and mold spores are on the move, and many people’s allergy symptoms worsen during these weather conditions. Rainy windless days mean less allergen distribution and fewer symptoms for people with seasonal allergies.
Mountain Cedar
Located in mountainous regions, this pollen producer makes folks miserable in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The peak time of Cedar is the spring season. Texas is a hilly area and many severe allergies are caused due to Cedar trees in this city.
Ragweed
Ragweed is found in the fields, at the river banks, roadsides and rural areas. Mild west and the Mississippi River Basin have more than average of Ragweed. The peak time of Ragweed is summer and fall. Dr Filley says that it is the most allergenic plant. It is not very common in the England so the amount of pollen is also less in England. AAFA says that 75% of Americans are allergic to Ragweed.
Ryegrass
Common in Northern areas of the United States, ryegrass is typified by dry, cool lawns and grassy meadows. Beware mowing; it’ll kick up mold as well as pollen and you’ll be hit with the double whammy. There are no allergy free grasses almost all the grasses are problematic and the common grass allergens are Orchard grass and the Timothy.
Maple
No stream is safe. Maple is found in the woods and along streams in the Eastern US and Canada. Pollen from the most potent species of maple – Ash Leaf – floats down in the early spring. The peak time of Maple plants is spring season. There are different kinds of Maple plants like red silver, sugar maple. Ash- leaf maple plants produce allergens that are found in throughout the United States. Other types of Maple also produce allergens that enhance the allergies in the human body.
Elm
In cultivated, wetland areas, the American Dutch Elm inspires sneezes in allergy sufferers in the Eastern United States. It is mostly found in the Eastern and the Midwestern places of United States. The peak season of American Dutch Elm is spring and the Lace bark elm in fall. 100 million trees of Dutch elm were killed between 1930 and 1980 but the trees came back in the1990s.
Mulberry
Mulberry trees are seen in Woods and the river valleys. Mulberry trees exist in Eastern United States. The peak season for Mulberry trees is winter to summer. Flowering plants usually do not produce pollen. Cherry and crab apple also does not produce pollen but the Mulberry plants produce strong pollens that contribute to the hay fever.
Tumbleweed (Pigweed)
Tumblweed causes allergy attacks along lawns and roadsides in the Western United States, as well as that lonesome mood.
Arizona Cypress
Arizona cypress strikes from the well-drained soils in the Southwestern United States. This plant can cause allergy problems six to seven months of the year.
The most charming flowering trees are not likely to cause your allergies. Apple, cherry and dogwood trees are considered hypoallergenic, so try growing them in your garden instead.
Tips Prevent Allergy Spring Plants:
- Do a thorough spring cleaning that includes curtains, rugs, windows, book shelves, and air conditioning vents — this helps remove accumulated dust and mold.
- Keep windows closed at night to prevent pollens and mold from drifting into your house.
- When possible, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools, and dries air in your home and car.
- Avoid outdoor activities between 5 AM and 10 AM — this is the prime time for pollen emission.
- When traveling, keep the car windows up and the air conditioning on.
- Minimize outdoor activity when the weather is hot, dry, and windy.
- Avoid hanging laundry out to dry — pollen and mold collects on them.
- Remove pollen and mold from your hair and skin with a daily shower before bed.
- Use a filter mask when you mow your lawn or rake leaves.
If symptoms are severely affecting your daily life, you may want to consult an allergist or immunologist. These specialists can pinpoint the allergens causing your symptoms and develop a management plan that may include environmental adjustments in your work or living space and prescription medications, which are more effective and better tolerated than over-the-counter remedies. To find a specialist in your area and learn more about seasonal allergies, visit AAAAI’s site at www.aaaai.org