As winter winds down, some Texans are already feeling the first tingle of allergy season. Those with allergies know that the itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing can make life miserable. But what does the weather actually have to do with it?
Allergies are triggered by airborne pollen, which is produced by plants. Most of the time, plant pollen is only released at certain times of year. That’s why it’s important to be aware of seasonal allergy symptoms and to treat them promptly when they start.
While most of the United States experiences a break from allergies during the winter as plants go dormant, Texas’ warmer climate promotes year-round allergen production. As a result, the state has been ranked on multiple health websites as one of the worst areas for allergies in the country.
The worst months for allergies in Texas are January, March through May, and June through August. This is when tree, grass and weed pollen are most prevalent. Additionally, if you have a pet in your home, they will shed more and increase the amount of animal dander in the air.
You can minimize your allergy symptoms by monitoring the local pollen count and staying indoors when pollen levels are high. Other precautions include keeping your trees trimmed, mowing the lawn regularly and pulling weeds to prevent overgrowth, and using an air purifier at home to filter out any allergy-triggering pollutants.
