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Get ready, Delawareans, allergies are going to be rough this week.
The intensity of grass pollen will be at moderate to high levels through this week and into next in the First State, weather experts say. And the hot, dry weather isn’t helping.
Dr. Michael Wydila of Allergy Associates in New Castle County said grass pollen tends to bloom in late April and peaks in mid-July. Allergy season, overall, typically lasts from March to July and then picks back up in intensity in August through Halloween.
Since Delaware experienced a lot of rain in May, it caused the grass to grow at a much faster rate, Wydila said. And now, with the recent dry spell, pollen has bloomed and is blowing around, resulting in people experiencing heightened symptoms, such as itchy eyes and runny noses.
Rain can help reduce the intensity of an area’s pollen count, Wydila said.
“In the next several weeks, it will probably be rough if there’s not much rain,” he said.
Delaware allergists have expected people to face more severe allergic reactions than usual this year because cold weather persisted well into spring. The late nor’easters led tree buds to remain dormant, which meant pollen was not released on schedule.
That meant that instead of different types of pollen releasing at staggered times, it hits people all at once. Intense thunderstorms can also trigger asthma attacks and allergy symptoms.
Wydila recommends people regularly take their allergy medicine, even if they haven’t started to feel symptoms. He also recommended closing windows and using air conditioning in their homes.
He also recommends neti pots to help relieve allergy symptoms. It consists of pouring a saltwater solution, held in a small tea kettle, into your nostrils to help soothe membranes that are irritated from allergens, he said.
Tom Kines, a meteorologist for AccuWeather.com, said Delawareans won’t experience “relief from heat and humidity anytime soon.”
The temperature this week will be in the low 90s and high 80s with some cooler weather and possible rain coming on Friday, he said.
“If you have a pool or AC you’re sitting pretty right now,” he said. “If not, you better find a friend who does.”
Source: Delaware Online
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The News Journal spoke with two allergists about what Delawareans should do to make the upcoming allergy season as easy as possible on themselves. Meredith Newman, News Journal
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