Tree pollen is out and grass is in. But this Mar. 11 file photo shows what many people dread: the start of allergy season. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
While Heather Lantz may be enjoying studytime in the grass April 12 at Oral Roberty University, this would be impossible for some. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
I am one of those lucky people who can take a handful of fresh-cut grass, rub it in my face and run a mile afterward.
Now, I’m not trying to rub this in. Some of you out there could probably die from doing something so extreme. Many friends of mine start sneezing just thinking about the lawn mower.
For many, spring is the kick-off of allergy season. But now, as of
12:16 p.m. Tuesday, it is summertime, which can signal a shift for many allergy sufferers.
The three main culprits—tree, grass and weed—have different onsets and peaks throughout the year. Mid-June is the end of tree pollen (for the most part), while late-May is the peak of grass. Though, for you grass sufferers out there, this is not news.
Now, for a quick refresher:
Seasonal allergy symptoms—sneezing, itchy eyes, and in the worst cases, asthma—are caused by the body’s overreaction to allergens. For seasonal allergy sufferers, those are generally pollen.
Grass allergies have the longest season, from mid-April to early-October. Weed pollen is the next to hit, about mid-July to early-November. Tree pollen comes with spring—about February to now.
The weather patterns of the seasons have an effect on this, as well. Wet springs can trigger more grass pollen, for example.
According to The Weather Channel’s
pollen history, grass pollen was been high for much of June. Though recently, it’s been in the moderate category.
So as we begin the summer dry-out and heat-up, we can also look forward to reduced grass pollen. But weed season is around the corner, so stock up on the antihistamines and tissues. I’ll be playing in the park. (OK…now I’m rubbing it in.)
--Jerry Wofford
