Allergy Seasons. weather and other environmental factors.

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1 3 Allergy Seasons American Academy of Allergy & Asthma Just like a weather report, an allergy report is a daily ritual across the country. But, if you think an allergy report is limited to certain times of the year, think again. Every season is allergy season for someone. The beginning and ending times of tree, grass and weed pollen seasons are very similar from year to year in the same location. This means that the onset, length and end of pollen seasons throughout the country are relatively standardized from year to year, although intensity differs every year based on the previous year s weather, current weather and other environmental factors. Still, it generally is possible for allergy sufferers to know when to expect tree, grass, weed and ragweed pollen in their area. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, knowing when pollen seasons occur can help you plan outdoor activities and better manage your allergy symptoms. Trees Allergy seasons vary from region to region, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Various regions of North America certainly differ in their flora and local weather, says Dr. Donald Pulver, an allergist in Rochester, N.Y. Trees are among the earliest pollen producers. In the southern part of the United States, trees can release their pollen as early as January; in Northern states, it can be as late as May or June. Temperatures below 50 degrees can hold up tree pollination, says Pulver. That s what happened in my area of Upstate New York. Then, we reached 80 degrees, and the trees let loose all at once we saw triple the previous seven-year peak for tree pollen. Trees release large amounts of pollen that can travel many miles. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, of the 50,000 kinds of trees, less than 100 have been shown to cause allergies. While people do show cross-reactivity among trees in the alder, beech, birch and oak family, and the juniper and cedar family, most allergies are specific to one type of tree, including:

2 Grasses ash box elder cottonwood elm hickory maple olive pecan poplar sycamore walnut willow Grasses, the largest family of wind-pollinated plants, usually begin pollination in May and continue through mid-july. As with tree pollen, grass pollen is regional as well as seasonal. In addition, grass pollen levels can be affected by temperature, time of day and rain. Grass season can shift by weeks according to weather, Pulver says. Of the 1,200 species of grass that grow in North America, only a small percentage of these cause allergies, according to NIEHS. The most common grasses that can cause allergies are: Weeds Bermuda grass Johnson grass Kentucky bluegrass Orchard grass Sweet vernal grass Timothy grass Ragweed and other weeds such as curly dock, lambs quarters, pigweed, plantain, sheep sorrel and sagebrush are some of the most prolific producers of pollen allergens. Although the ragweed pollen season runs from August to November, ragweed pollen levels tend to peak in mid September in many areas in the country. Also, pollen counts are highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and on dry, hot and windy days. Mold Mold spores can be found both indoors and outside. Indoor molds don t follow a seasonal pattern, but outdoor molds, which grow in moist shady areas and are common in soil, decaying vegetation, compost piles, rotting wood and fallen leaves, are seasonal. Outdoor molds first appear in early spring and last until the first frost of the winter. The mold season usually peaks from July to late summer, and people who are allergic to molds tend to suffer symptoms from spring to late fall. In the warmest areas of North America, however, molds thrive all year and can cause year-round allergic problems.

3 Tips for Avoiding Seasonal Allergens More than 35 million people across North America suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). To steer clear of allergies, allergists recommend avoidance. Following are 11 ways AAAAI recommends to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergens and decrease your chances of suffering allergy symptoms. Try to stay indoors when the pollen count or humidity is reported to be high, and on windy days when dust and pollen are blown about. Use air conditioning and a dehumidifier to clean, cool and dry the air. After spending time outdoors, remove shoes outside to avoid bringing pollen indoors. Change your clothes as soon as possible to avoid continued contact with accumulated pollen. Or, shower after spending extended periods of time outdoors to remove pollen that has collected on your skin and hair. Don t hang clothes to dry outside. Instead, dry them in a vented dryer. Avoid yard work, such as mowing and raking. Keep windows closed at night to prevent pollen and fungal spores from drifting into your home. Instead, if needed, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries the air. Minimize activities when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen times are usually between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but differ for trees, grasses and weeds. Keep your car windows closed when traveling. Use large, waxy flowers like lilies and tulips to decorate your home. Their pollen is too heavy and sticky to enter the air and cause an allergic reaction. Vacation in a more pollen-free area, such as the beach. Follow the advice of your allergist.

4 Wellness Questions 3 name Use the space provided to write answers to each of the questions. Make certain your answers are in complete sentences. 1. Why is the timing of pollen seasons relatively standardized from year to year? 2. Describe the pollen-release tendencies of trees. 3. List four types of trees that commonly cause allergic reactions. 4. What can change grass pollen levels? 5. What are some of the most common weeds that cause allergies?

5 Wellness Wordsearch 3 name E R F L S I D E H U M I D I F I E R D S R M A N A G E E A T D O S G T F H H O I I N S W E T T E T E O A O N F S R E I N T E N S I T Y D S N E S I S I S O E A A R O D D T N N E L A H H Y D O M H O R H H P S S U N S T L S I S L S E V V E S G S E P T E M B E R O O S I S A E R R A O E D N T I I O I E R I A N K L E E O T T O V O W T I R E G N N O S R S N D O T A C E E R O E A V O I D A N C E H S R F H O F O A N D U R L S L E D N C D E U L A O E R S T A H E E H S N S G T T T L V S O E I N D O O R R O E O N K I A S E L S M C D N D S E E O E T D E H E A L T H W O P C H R O E O L E T E D O A R A H O S H T I G N T F S S S K S S T H K N U N O T N O E G N L I C S E O D S T I S R O S T S A L O E R T L R O R R I K C A T R O S I O N M D R T N E U E S N E F A S O N R G E L R W E O H S S S N H Y R H F O I W Y I L L L A L E O H S G U W O T A I H N O I D T E S T T K W O U W M S A G E G Y M D T A O L O S O B A E L S O S R N R E A S T E U T U L I P S B E D A A E R E I O E S I E E A R I O I O G S S A P L T E A N C I R E N N S I S I O S E E O G E I S H P E A M D P R E I W D E L S O O E F O E S S D U U I L H C I O O G E A O S R A G W E E D A T I K T U G W G I B O T Use the clues below to discover words in the above puzzle. Circle the words. 1. Health 2. September 3. allergies 4. avoidance 5. clothes 6. dehumidifier 7. environmental 8. flora 9. grasses 10. hickory 11. hot 12. indoor 13. intensity 14. manage 15. outdoor 16. ragweed 17. season 18. shoes 19. tulips 20. windows

6 Wellness Crossword 3 name Use the clues provided to complete the crossword puzzle below. Across: The H in NIEHS 4. The of the pollen season 4 differs every year 5. Pollen counts are highest on days 5 6. The month in which ragweed pollen peaks 11. You can better your 8 allergy symptoms by knowing 9 10 when the allergy season occurs Keep them closed at night 14. These molds first appear in early spring This is one type of tree known to cause allergies Only 100 trees are known to cause them 17. Don t hang them outdoors to dry Remove these to avoid bringing pollen indoors The largest family of wind-pollinated 20 plants Down: 2. The intensity of the pollen season will partly depend on these factors 3. These flowers have pollen too heavy and sticky to enter the air 7. One prolific producer of pollen allergens 8. Every is allergy for someone 9. Use this to dry the air 10. These molds do not follow a season pattern 13. Various regions of North America differ in this area 18. They are among the earliest pollen producers 6 7