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VERIFYING 3 Fast Facts About Pollen And Seasonal Allergies
Contrary to popular belief, pollen from flowers isn't the leading cause of seasonal allergies and you can't escape pollen allergies by moving to a drier climate.
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Spring means flowers blooming, trees blossoming and seedlings sprouting in most of the United States, which leads to pollen being released into the air.
Pollen is a fine to coarse, powdery substance that is created by certain plants as part of their reproduction process, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Exposure to pollen in the air can cause a variety of irritating symptoms in people who are exposed to it, or none at all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. For people with seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, pollen exposure can cause sneezing, congestion and a runny nose.
Pollen in the air can also result in allergic conjunctivitis in some people, which causes red, watery, or itchy eyes, the CDC says. It can also cause asthma attacks in people who have asthma who are triggered by pollen.
We're VERIFYING three common misconceptions about pollen and seasonal allergies.
THE SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
1. It's a myth that pollen from flowers is the leading cause of seasonal allergies.
Flowering plants that spread their pollen by insects like roses and daffodils usually do not cause seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Instead, our sources agree that most of the pollen that causes allergic reactions comes from trees, grasses and weeds.
"It's a common misconception that flowers are one of the main causes of seasonal allergies," Family Allergy & Asthma says on its website. "While flowers do contain pollen, it's not as easily spread by the wind."
Family Allergy & Asthma and Flonase, an allergy relief medicine brand, both say that flower pollen is heavier and stickier than the smaller, lighter, airborne pollen from trees, weeds and grasses.
"The pollen from showy, colorful flowers, such as roses, daffodils and sunflowers is heavy and sticky so it can be picked up and carried by insects and animals," Flonase says. "As a result, the pollen from these flowers doesn't get carried on the wind to cause your airborne allergy symptoms."
If you're allergic to pollen or suffer from seasonal allergies, the CDC recommends following the tips:
2. It's a myth that seasonal allergies can only develop during childhood.
It's possible for adults who did not experience seasonal allergies during their childhood to develop them later in life.
"Most people typically develop allergy symptoms at a young age, outgrow their allergies, and become tolerant around their 20s or 30s. But it's possible to develop an allergy or become allergic to something at any point in your lifetime," Allergy & ENT Associates says on its website.
Rana Misiak, M.D., an allergist at Henry Ford Health, agrees.
"Seasonal allergies can start and stop at any time during your life," says Misiak.
Allergy & ENT Associates says it's currently unclear how or why seasonal allergies develop in adulthood. However, researchers believe that having one severe allergic reaction or symptoms during childhood can increase your chances of developing allergies as an adult.
"The good news is that there are a variety of effective strategies and treatments to relieve allergy symptoms, allowing you to enjoy your daily activities," says Misiak.
VERIFY found that it's beneficial to start taking allergy medicine before symptoms start. We also found that nasal sprays are more effective at treating sinus symptoms than other types of allergy medicines. Click here for more VERIFIED remedies to treat seasonal allergies.
3. It's a myth that you can escape seasonal allergies by moving to a drier climate.
Contrary to popular belief, moving to a drier climate, like a desert in the Southwestern U.S., will not cure your seasonal allergies. This is because pollen exposure can occur anywhere and everywhere, according to our sources.
"There really is no allergy-free zone. Pollen allergies can occur anywhere. Deserts have plenty of plants that produce pollen, such as sagebrush, cottonwood and olive trees. When pollen counts are high, you may experience symptoms," the Allergy & Asthma Network, an allergy and asthma research nonprofit, says on its website.
Flonase and the Allergy & Asthma Network both note that relocating to a drier climate may only offer temporary relief from seasonal allergies triggered by pollen because allergies to local plants could eventually develop within a few years.
"The timing of your seasonal allergies and your allergic symptoms may vary in a different climate, but they may not vanish altogether," the Allergy & Asthma Network says.
Summit Health and the Allergy & Asthma Network recommend talking to a healthcare professional about treatment options before you consider moving to help manage your pollen allergies.
This story is also available in Spanish / Lee este artículo también en español: Verificamos 3 datos breves sobre el polen y las alergias estacionales
Little Rock & Fayetteville Included In Top 20 Most Challenging Cities To Live In With Pollen Allergies
Two Arkansas cities were listed in the top 20 of the Allergy Capitals report, which lists the most challenging cities to live in for people with pollen allergies.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Little Rock and Fayetteville were both included in this year's top 20 Allergy Capitals report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), which lists the most challenging cities to live in for people with pollen allergies.
The full list includes 100 cities based on their pollen scores for tree, grass, and weed pollen, over-the-counter allergy medication use, and the number of allergy specialists in the area.
Fayetteville appeared as number 10 on the list, with Little Rock at number 17. See below for the rest of the top 20 list:
Over 100 million people in the United States are affected by allergies. AAFA creates these annual reports to help people recognize, prevent, and manage their seasonal allergies.
According to the 2024 Allergy Capitals report, climate change has caused growing seasons to start earlier and last longer than they did 30 years ago— and now, some parts of the United States experience pollen year-round.
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