Texas’ weather greatly impacts allergies

The coughing, sneezing and sniffling that typically signal the start of allergy season are upon us. About 26% of American adults and 19% of children have seasonal allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, for those of us in Texas, the itchy eyes and runny noses seem a lot worse because our allergy “season” is really yearround.

Thanks to our particular climate in Texas, especially with its dry and mild winters, allergies here can last beyond typical growing seasons.

“Different plants are genetically programmed to pollinate at different times of the year,” said Dr. Robert Butler, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Austin ENT Clinic. “From the plant’s perspective, they wait until a change occurs in the temperature, humidity, or even hours of daylight. Weather can influence the prosperity of these plants and how much of their pollen is transported into the air we breathe.”

In a recent survey by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Dallas ranks second for cities with the worst allergies in the country, after Wichita, Kan. The survey took into account how the cities scored in categories such as the amount of tree, grass and weed pollen; over-thecounter allergy medicine usage; and the availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists.

Several other Texas cities also were named in the top 100, with Houston ranking 12th, McAllen at 25th, San Antonio at 37th and El Paso at 39th. Austin, where cedar pollen is a dreaded winter scourge, ranked 97th.

Common allergens

Mold is a common allergen in the Lone Star State, present throughout the entire year, during both wet weather and dry spells.

Cedar is another major allergen in Texas during winter, and it’s given the nickname “cedar fever” because of the symptoms it triggers, from headaches and stuffed sinuses to coughing and sneezing. This pollen actually comes from Ashe juniper trees, despite being known as mountain cedar.

“Cedar pollen is interesting in that it can cause nasal and eye irritation in people who are not allergic to it. Think of it as a microscopic burr that floats in the air,” said Butler, who also specializes in sinus surgery.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 24 million acres of the Edwards Plateau are covered in these trees. The trees are found in a broad strip across Texas from Red River to the Rio Grande.

“Cedar fever is the worst west of I-35, where you have primarily juniper mixed in with oaks and some other species,” said Texas A&M Forest Service manager Jonathan Motsinger. “And because all of those junipers are producing pollen at the same time, you’re going to get a higher concentration of pollen in the air.”

Because winds carry pollen, cedar fever can even cause allergic reactions for Texans who don’t live near a lot of juniper trees, according to the Forest Service.

For the Texas junipers, their favorite time to release pollen is right after a cold front, said Robert Edmonson, a biologist for the Texas A&M Forest Service.

“Following a cold front,” said Edmonson, “the air dries out, we get some wind, and the pressure is different. Under those conditions, every single pollen cone on a juniper tree will open at one time, and it looks like the trees are on fire. It looks like there’s smoke coming off of them.”

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, spring has three main allergens: ash, pecan and oak pollen. The yellow film we see on cars in March and April comes from oak trees. In summer, the allergen count is lower because of the hot and dry weather, but mold and grass allergens are still present. When autumn rolls around, ragweed and fall elm are the primary stressers. Some kinds of elm trees also pollinate during the spring. Climate change and weather patterns can significantly alter pollen production and allergy seasons. In Texas, a warm winter combined with drought can cause plants to bloom earlier than usual, and rainy weather tends to remove the pollen that floats in the air.

According to Climate Central, climate change is also a contributor to prolonged allergy seasons. Longer periods without freezing weather mean that plants have more time to flower and release allergyinducing pollen. A recent study published in PNAS, a peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences, found that North American pollen seasons became longer by an average of 20 days and more intense between 1990 and 2018.

According to Butler, there are several options for managing allergies:

• Avoid exposure to cedar pollen by traveling elsewhere or staying inside when you can.

• Dilute the quantity of pollen you are exposed to with air filters and air purifiers or saline rinses for your sinuses.

• Use medication to suppress the allergic response with antihistamines and nasal steroids.

• Consider allergy testing and immunotherapy to attempt to block reaction to pollen, mold or dust.

Sometimes it is difficult to determine the difference between allergies and a viral illness. But Butler gave a little more insight:

“The old saying, ‘if it itches then it’s allergy’ is fairly accurate.” he said. “Viruses will wane over 10 days while allergies will usually worsen as a season progresses and (illness) peaks two to four weeks after it starts.”