Here at Native Edge we love Spring! However, we know we’re not alone in saying sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. Pollen is one of the most common allergens in the United States and aside from taking allergy shots, or antihistamines, the best way to diminish symptoms is to avoid the allergen altogether. That’s why we’re giving you the tools to help pinpoint your pollen problems, so you can get back to enjoying the things you love most: plants!
Given that the weather changes plants’ behaviors from year to year it should be of no surprise that it also changes how much pollen they release. A mild winter can indicate an earlier pollen season, where a late freeze might reduce the amount of pollen that year. Large amounts of dry wind will spread the pollen faster and rain can help drive it from the air.
Determining when and how much pollen will be in the air at any given time can be complicated and similar to the weather can’t be predicted too far in advance, but trends can be made. That’s why KXAN, our local news station, has an allergy report they push out every weekday to help you determine what’s bad each day.
Another important thing to consider is figuring out what you are allergic to.
There are many different types of pollen out there, and unless you are extremely unlucky, you are likely not allergic to ALL of them. If your allergies are bad enough, consider going to a doctor and getting a skin test to see what you can narrow it down to. Once you know what they are you will be better equipped to handle what comes your way.
Check out this Austin Allergy Calendar to see the types of pollen that dominate in Austin and when they are typically at their worst.
Finally, we know that at a certain point it’s impossible to avoid all allergens in the air, and you can’t stop your busy life just because of a little pollen. However, when you are at home simple things like buying an air cleaner or conditioner with CLEAN filters can do wonders to control your allergies.
