Texas has experienced an unpredictable allergy season due to unusual climate activity.
Allergy experts are attributing the unseasonably high levels of pollen in Dallas and the north Texas area to a combination of an especially frigid winter, a late spring and the typical summer heat failing to make an appearance until July. Consequently, allergy sufferers have had to endure a harder year than usual and have an early hay fever season to look forward to next.
Dr. Robert W. Sugerman of Dallas Allergy and Immunology at Medical City Dallas Hospital told Dallas News that there have already been appearances of pollen usually reserved for the fall, like cedar elm which traditionally doesn’t arrive until around Labor Day. Also, ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Jeffrey Adelglass of Plano found the first traces of ragweed pollen, though its seasonal appearance would normally be a few weeks from now.
“It’s hard to say exactly why it’s so early, but the varying temperatures we’ve had can spur the ragweed to pollinate a little earlier,” Adelglass said. “Pollination usually waits for the temperatures to cool down a little bit. We’ve had a few cooler days, and the little bit of rain we had only serves to water the ragweed.”
Dr. Sugerman maintains that there are two major factor that contribute to plants pollinating: exposure to the sun and changes in the climate. The doctor affirms that there have been climatic anomalies, noting the ice storm in December and the freezing temperatures of January, which have given allergy-sufferers more to contend with than what they’re accustomed to.
Along with taking medications early and often to get ahead of allergic reactions instead of “chasing” them, Dr. Sugerman also recommended over-the-counter antihistamines and topical steroid nasal sprays if they’re absolutely necessary.
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