COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – As Ohioans leave behind cold and flu season, a new wave of sniffles has arrived: seasonal allergies.
The arrival of springtime means numerous residents will begin to experience a runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. About 25% of adults in the United States have a seasonal allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ohio bill would mandate ‘success sequence’ education, including marriage before kidsTrees can begin releasing pollen as early as February in Ohio, and weeds that disperse pollen can drag out allergy season through November. However, there are steps residents can take to relieve their allergies this year.
The culprits behind seasonal allergies
Pollen, a powdery substance created by numerous plants as a part of their reproduction process, is one of the most common spring allergens. Although pollen is harmless, many people’s bodies mistake it as a threat and attempt to expel the substance, resulting in allergy symptoms.
“The springtime allergen that is probably the most bothersome here in the Ohio Valley is tree pollen, so that starts around March and goes through usually the beginning of June,” said Dr. Summit Shaw, an allergist at Premier Allergy and Asthma. “The other springtime allergen is grass pollen, which usually starts around mid-May and then goes through the end of June.”
Additionally, mold produces spores that float through the air and can cause allergies in the spring. Mold can grow on almost anything when moisture is present, and in the spring it commonly grows on dead plants, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Former Ohio governor speaks about current political climateRagweed is often the culprit for those who experience allergies in the late summer and fall. The flowering plant begins pollinating in mid-August along with other weeds, which continue pollinating until the first frost.
How severe this year’s allergy season will be
An analysis by the AAFA estimated how bad allergy season is expected to be in cities across the U.S. this year, based on prior pollen counts and other data. The nonprofit found that allergy season in Columbus is expected to be “average” this year, while multiple cities in Southern and Eastern states are expected to experience a worse-than-usual allergy season.
However, this year’s allergy season could last longer in central Ohio and across the country. Environmental changes, such as a warming climate and increased carbon dioxide levels, are leading to longer pollen seasons, according to Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center.
“The allergy season kind of varies, but this year, partially because of a little bit of the rising temperatures, we're noticing that the seasons are going a little bit longer,” Shaw said.
From 1970 to 2024, allergy season in Columbus increased by 27 days, according to Climate Central.
How to relieve allergies
Shaw said there are three main ways to relieve allergies: avoidance, medication and vaccines. Avoidance involves taking precautions to stay away from an allergen.
“Staying indoors on high pollen days or making sure to use the air conditioning or rinsing off at night with a nice shower to get all the pollen off of your body,” Shaw said. “So that would be ways to avoid tree pollen and springtime pollen.”
Study finds most unusual baby name in Ohio and each state in U.S.For people who have mild to moderate allergies, Shaw said over-the-counter medication can be effective. Common over-the-counter antihistamines include Zyrtec and Allegra, and intranasal steroids include Flonase and Nasacort. However, for people with severe allergies, over-the-counter treatment may be ineffective.
“Many patients just keep taking over-the-counter medicines and they notice that, hey, they're not working,” Shaw said. “There is another treatment that you can do and that's called allergy shots and many allergy practices throughout central Ohio offer allergy shots.”
Shaw said patients are often hesitant to do allergy shots due to the traditional process taking years. However, a newer kind of allergy shot, called intralymphatic immunotherapy, can cut the process down to three shots over the course of three months. Premier Allergy and Asthma offers the treatment, along with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
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