Escape from Seasonal Allergies?

Q: I suffer from pretty extreme seasonal allergies. Are there certain regions of the U.S. that provide more allergy relief than others? If so, would moving to another area decrease my allergic reactions?

A: The bottom line with seasonal allergies is that you can run, but you can't hide. That’s because the severity of your symptoms is dependent upon your body’s immune reaction to the airborne allergens (tree, grass or weed pollen, mold spores) in your geographic area. While relocating to another area may provide initial relief, it's only a matter of time before similar or related allergens catch up to you.

For example, if you live in the southern region of the U.S., tree pollen may trigger your allergy symptoms—such as runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes—from February through March. Moving to a location farther north will only buy you time until April or May, when that area's tree pollen season will set off your allergic response.

Pollen's inescapable pattern

Allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever," is very common. In fact, if you're affected, you can probably predict when your symptoms will appear since there's a seasonal pattern to the type of pollen that triggers your symptoms. In general, the pollinating season begins earlier in the south and later in the north, but across the nation, a typical sequence of allergy triggers is as follows:

• Tree pollens: February through May
• Grass pollens: Mid-to late April through mid-July
• Weed pollens: End of summer to fall, but can continue until the first frost

Keep in mind that weather conditions can raise or lower the pollen counts in your area. For example, while pollen levels are often higher on dry, warm and windy days, sudden decreases in temperature can lower the counts. Also, humid or rainy days soak the pollen, causing it to fall to the ground. This keeps the pollen away from the air currents that would usually float it toward your eyes and respiratory system.

The pollen triple play

Tree, grass, and weed pollens are the main culprits behind seasonal allergies.

• Tree pollens: These are usually released in high amounts during early to mid-spring, but may also be present during the fall. The timing varies depending on the geographic location and tree type. Common pollen producers that trigger allergic rhinitis in those with these sensitivities include elm, maple, cedar, oak, cypress, hickory, ash and birch trees.
• Grass pollens: While most common during the later spring to early fall, some grasses in warmer climates release pollen throughout the year (to the dismay of those allergic). Additionally, many of the species of grass—redtop, vernal, timothy, Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard, perennial rye, meadow fescue, and others—have similar pollen structures and are cross-reactive. That means if you get allergic rhinitis from one, it may be due to exposure to another.
• Weed pollens: The most famous of these is ragweed, the notorious trigger for allergic rhinitis in the late summer and fall. And there are lots more, including mugwort, yellow dock, English plantain, Russian thistle, lamb's quarters, sagebrush, tumbleweed, western ragweed and pigweed. Geographic location and climate play a role in their pollen season, which has the potential to be year-round, especially in areas with warmer temperatures.