Pollen Count Ephrata Pa (2024)

FAQs

What hours is pollen the highest? ›

When Is The Pollen Count Low? On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.

Rain may also help ease tree pollen allergies but may worsen grass, weed, dust, and mold allergies. Rain can wash away tree pollen, making the particles heavier and less likely to spread. However, rain hitting grass and weed pollen can break up the particles, spreading them further and increasing exposure.

Pollen is produced naturally as a means of reproduction for a variety of plants, but human activity — such as creating air pollution, using non-native and allergen-producing plants in landscaping, and the increasing temperatures caused by climate change — all contribute to the exacerbation of seasonal allergies.

Pollen is the leading cause of allergies and can be worse in certain areas of the United States, mainly on the East Coast. Cities on the West Coast, such as California, Washington, and Utah, can be better choices for people with allergies. However, allergens are everywhere.

Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers

To reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens): Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

Second-generation antihistamines: The preferred first-step agent is certirizine (Zyrtec); others include loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra). All are taken once per day and are generally cause little to no drowsiness. We recommend cetirizine for initial treatment.

Children are more likely to develop allergies than adults, and the severity of allergies can increase with age. However, allergies can be managed with proper diagnosis and treatment, and with the right lifestyle changes, people of all ages can live a healthy and allergy-free life.

Do air purifiers help with allergies? Yes — somewhat. Some studies have shown that for people with allergies, cleaner air may provide some relief from symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and congestion. They may also help people with allergies cut back on the amount of medication they take.

There is less moisture in the air to weigh down the pollen grains when the wind blows. This helps more pollen travel farther and more easily.

Stay Clean

Taking a hot shower after being outside can help wash away any potential allergens that might be trapped on your skin or hair. Taking a hot shower also has an added benefit in that the hot steam from the shower can help open up your airways and clear out any congestion.

Why are allergies so bad right now in 2024? ›

Warmer temperatures, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and increased precipitation can all contribute to plants' growing bigger and producing more pollen over longer periods of time, Dr. Anderegg said.

The best way to build a tolerance to seasonal allergies is through immunotherapy. Allergy immunotherapy will expose your body to small amounts of what you are allergic to. Over time you will become desensitized and stop reacting when exposed to allergens.

The best and worst places for allergy sufferers in the U.S. Wichita, Kansas takes the top spot for allergy suffering because of the high levels of tree and grass pollen, high medicine use and few allergy specialists, the report said.

The highest pollen count occurs in the morning and late afternoon. Pollen counts are low on cold, rainy days and high on hot, dry days. Pollen grains will rapidly release allergen molecules into the water when in contact with rain or dew. When the molecules dry, they form small dust particles that can be inhaled.

Allergies may worsen at night due to natural circadian rhythms, increased nocturnal pollen counts, and environmental allergens. Lying down can also increase congestion.

But it doesn't take open windows to trigger your pollen allergy in the morning. If you've been outside during the day, pollen can stick to your clothes, hair, and skin. When you head indoors, you can transfer pollen to your furniture and bedding, which might also lead to worsening symptoms in the morning.

Atlanta's record pollen count and growth

Pollen season has its extremes. Sometimes, the daily pollen count reaches above 3,000 to 4,000 grains per cubic meters. Our record highest pollen count was 9,369 grains per cubic meter back on March 20, 2012.