Oregon’s trees and other flora are what make it such a beautiful state to live in, but it’s also what makes us consistently rank as one of the worst states for allergies. Thanks to our mild climate and plethora of evergreen trees, allergy season is year-round. So, let’s discuss the best way to find relief.
Oregon’s Allergens by the Season
Every season brings its own proliferation of pollen. If you’re one of the 25% of people with seasonal allergies, this is what’s in the air that’s making you sneeze.
Winter
Winter officially starts in late December. The winter season is when our beautiful evergreen trees release their pollen. Around Salem, ash and mulberry trees are the biggest culprits, as well as spruce, cypress and juniper. Moreover, winter is when indoor allergens take off, such as mold and dust mites.
Spring
When you think of seasonal allergies, you think of spring. Tree pollen from alder and birch trees begins spreading in late February, followed by sycamore, oak, maple, ash and cottonwood tree pollen. This is also when grasses and weeds begin to sprout and spread pollen.
Summer
Grass pollen starts in spring but kicks into high gear in the summer. Grass pollen counts peak in June in Oregon, and the state consistently has some of the highest concentrations of grass pollen in the country during the summer, ranking highest on Pollen.com.
Fall
We’ve written extensively about ragweed, and for good reason. Fall brings little relief from allergies as ragweed begins blooming in late August and continues to spread its pollen until mid-November, when the first frost typically arrives.
Allergy Relief
There are three main management strategies for allergies: prevention, medication and long-term treatment. Which strategy you use predominantly will depend on the season and how severe your symptoms are in that season.
Prevention
Limiting exposure to your known allergens is your best chance of avoiding allergy symptoms. This is often easier said than done, and it requires knowing what your allergic triggers are. Prevention can look like:
- Staying indoors when pollen counts are high.
- Regularly deep cleaning your home to reduce dander, dust and mold.
- Using an air filter in your home to cleanse allergen particles from the air.
Approaches like these are easier to do in the winter, when staying indoors is more common and you have more time to clean your home. In the spring and summer, when outdoor sports and recreation get going, this might be more challenging.
Medication
Medications—such as antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays—are widely used for allergy relief. Allergy medications in the fall and winter are more likely to be needed on an as-needed basis, since you’re most likely spending less time outdoors. Decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications will target symptoms and bring quick, temporary relief.
As spring approaches, switch to antihistamines, preferably before your symptoms start in earnest, as antihistamines work best when taken consistently, so the drug can accumulate and block histamines from causing your allergy symptoms. Continue taking them through summer and into fall until pollen counts start to fall (keep that pesky ragweed in mind!).
Long-Term Treatment
If OTC and prescription medications aren’t helping with your allergies, then long-term treatments such as allergy shots or allergy drops will be more effective. These two treatments are forms of immunotherapy, which decrease allergy symptoms by enhancing the body’s immunity to your allergy triggers. Allergy shots and allergy drops are long-term treatments that typically last three to five years, depending on the method used.
Allergy shots require a build-up phase in which you visit the allergist once a week for three to six months. It would be convenient to begin this treatment during a season in which you aren’t very busy or don’t have any travel plans, so you can make your weekly visits. After the build-up phase, you move into the maintenance phase, and you’ll no longer need to come in weekly.
Allergy drops are taken orally and can be taken at home. You’ll have regular follow-up visits with your allergist to ensure the treatment is working as intended with no complications, but it doesn’t require weekly visits like allergy shots.
Our team of allergists at Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery are well-informed on Oregon’s allergy climate and have the knowledge to create a treatment plan that works for you and your allergies. Call today to schedule an appointment.
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