Spring is almost here! How are you feeling so far?
(The Charlotte Observer, Evan Moore) — Spring is less than three weeks away, which means allergy sufferers should start preparing for pollen season.
More pollen in the air means there’s a higher chance of suffering from symptoms like runny nose, congestion and itchy eyes.
But peak pollen counts depend on several factors, including the season, weather and time of day, according to Carolina Asthma & Allergy, a medical clinic based in Charlotte.
Here’s when allergy season will peak in NC, how long it will last and how to treat your allergy symptoms.
When will allergy season peak in NC?
Pollen levels could reach their peak sometime in the next few weeks, Dr. Edwin Kim, an associate professor at the UNC School of Medicine who specializes in allergies and immunology, told The Charlotte Observer.
He noted that, in the past, North Carolina has seen pollen as early as the second week of February, but that’s not the case this year.
“We’re starting to see those pollen levels rise pretty quickly,” Kim said. “And I would anticipate, even within the next couple of weeks, for those pollen levels to get really high up and the medicine shelves at the pharmacies to start emptying out.”
How long will allergy season last in NC?
Allergy season typically lasts from around mid-February to late September, Kim said. (Last year, the dense pollen season ended in mid-April, The News & Observer reported.)
But North Carolina’s allergy season should actually be shorter this year due to lower-than-normal temperatures as spring approaches, Kim said.
He explained that allergy season technically lasts through fall in North Carolina because different types of pollen are common at various times of year.
“February and March is when tree pollen season starts, and that would run really through the end of spring and into early summer,” Kim said. “Then mid-summer is usually when the trees slow down, but the grass pollen really starts to peak, so that becomes the major problem until you reach back-to-school. Then, when you get to about September, that’s when ragweed season kicks in.”
Will allergy season be worse in NC this year?
Allergy season should be about the same as last year, Kim said, adding that global warming has contributed to higher pollen counts in recent years.
“I think, with warming climates and stuff like that, it does seem like the trees, grasses and weeds have been growing very strong, and so the last few pollen seasons have gotten very, very potent,” said Kim. “My guess is it would be the same. It just will take a little longer to kick in. But there’s not a reason that I could think of where the pollen would be sort of any milder.”
Kim reiterated that the season should be shorter, though just as strong.
“As the recent snow melts, that’s going to make trees very happy,” Kim said. “So I would imagine [allergy season] would be slightly shorter, but just as potent as in the past.”
What time of day are pollen levels the highest?
Pollen levels are usually highest early in the morning until around midday when plants are releasing pollen, according to Carolina Asthma & Allergy.
You can also become more exposed to pollen if it collects on your clothes or in your home during the day, according to the clinic.