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A Regional Guide for Fall Allergies

A Regional Guide for Fall Allergies
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There’s a good chance that, come the onset of autumn, you’ll suddenly find yourself experiencing a runny nose, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. The impact of fall allergy season, however, can vary dramatically based on where you live. The guide below can help prepare you for what to expect once summer gives way to fall.

Southeast US:

Those living in the southeastern United States don’t have to wait for fall
to suffer from allergies, as tree pollen can be a problem beginning in the spring, followed by grass pollen in the late spring and summer. By the time fall comes around, people living in this region must contend with high levels of ragweed pollen. The only notable exception to these patterns is found in Texas. In the Lone Star State, red mountain cedar trees release a barrage of pollen shortly before Christmas.

Northeastern US:

The Northeast has a shorter summer season than other parts of the
country, but it is still bombarded with pollen from trees, grasses and ragweed plants. The key difference for Northeast is that it’s climate causes an earlier appearance from ragweed pollen. In fact, ragweed will start to rear its ugly head around the halfway point of August.

Midwestern US:

The climate in Midwestern states (an area which ranges from Indiana
to the Dakotas from east to west, and from the Canadian border to Kansas from north to south) is fairly similar to the northeast US. Consequently, allergy sufferers living in the Midwest can expect roughly the same allergy-related problems as their counterparts further east. Specifically, ragweed pollen becomes commonplace in mid-August, and is preceded by grass pollen in early summer and tree pollen in the thick of spring.

The Western US:

If you thought that the desert climates of the western US would form
a refuge for allergy sufferers, you might want to think again; the warmer temperatures in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada can allow pollen-producing plants to flourish year-round.

Likewise, California residents are bothered by airborne pollen for most of the calendar year. People living in the in the Rocky Mountain states can encounter ragweed as early as June, and may be bothered by it all the way to Halloween. Finally, those calling the Pacific Northwest home aren’t spared from ragweed pollens; in this part of the country, ragweed triggers allergic reactions during both the summer months and the early portion of fall.

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