It Takes A Week-Long Frost To Kill Off All The Pollen Outside!

You may think since we have had temperatures dipping below freezing a few times already that all of the pollen is gone.  It takes a week-long frost to kill off all the pollen outside.

In Virginia, we have not reached a full week of below freezing (32 degrees or lower) in the past two years.  It may have teetered around freezing, but it always warmed up within a few days.

That is one of the reasons allergies have seemed so bad in this area for the past couple years.  The weather never really killed off all the pollen.

This year, I am hearing that we will have a cold winter.  This is great news for those who suffer from outdoor allergies!

If you still have allergy issues after a full week of below freezing weather, than most likely you may also have indoor, or year-round, allergies.

Year-round allergies consist of dust mites, cockroaches, mold and pet dander.  If you have indoor allergies, you will most likely need to take allergy medicine year-round.

10 Tips To Reduce Allergens In Your Home

1. Avoid apples, bananas, peaches and plums if you are allergic to grass or tree pollen. They can cause the same reaction as if you were near grass or trees.
2. Use non-toxic cleaners to clean your house.  Most cleaners contain heavy scents and toxic fumes that can irritate your nasal passage and lungs.
3. Throw your pillow out at least every three years.  Dust mites are attracted to the stuffing in pillows.  You don't want that next to your face all night!
4. Wash your hands after touching a dog or cat.  There are no hypo-allergenic breeds of animals.  The allergen does not come from their fur, but it does come from their dead skin (dander).  You would have to find a skinless cat or dog for it to be hypo-allergenic and that is just not possible.
5. Use a nylon shower curtain.  Vinyl shower curtains emit toxic odors and mold and mildew is attracted to vinyl.
6. Look for mold in the refrigerator, garbage, on the air-conditioning system and in your dishwasher.  It can be anywhere where there is moisture.
7. Freeze your stuffed animals.  Dust mites are attracted to the stuffing.  Either freeze the stuffed animals in a zip-lock bag for 24 hours at least once a month or wash and dry them.  
8. Watch the ingredients in sunscreens, moisturizers and make-up if you have sensitive skin.  Look for parabens-free or hypoallergenic formulas.
9. If you have carpet, consider replacing it with wood or tile flooring.  Carpet is a great place for dust mites, mold, pollen and dander to hide.  If you decide to keep your carpets and rugs, vacuum regularly with a good HEPA filter.
10. Take your shoes off when you enter the house and wash your hands.  Get all the pollen off of you when you enter your house.

Ragweed is coming into season

Fall is a dreaded season for people who suffer from ragweed allergies.  

If you begin to feel allergy symptoms now, you may be allergic to ragweed (or any type of weed).

The Rain Is Giving Us Some Relief From Outdoor Allergies

It has been raining in Northern Virginia for the past two days and it looks like it may rain again tomorrow.  The rain is giving us a break from the pollen, but the pollen will come back with a vengeance later on this week.

On Sunday, I along with many others in the Northern Virginia area noticed an increase in allergy symptoms.  I now have laryngitis because of all the mucous draining down my throat over the weekend.  It's also causing mucous to go into my lungs.  Not even Mucinex and herbal throat tea are helping to get the wheezing to go away.

I may have to go out and buy another bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar.  It clears mucous out, is all natural and doesn't cost much.  Everyone who has recommended it to me has also recommended that I get the organic, all-natural apple cider vinegar with 'the Mother' in it.  I tried it before and it does work, but I ran out during my last bought with mucous.

I have had one neighbor who has laryngitis, not including myself, one friend who developed a sinus infection and another who had very swollen, itchy eyes.

Has anyone else noticed an increase in allergy symptoms?  What were your symptoms?

Tree pollen is high, grass is medium today in Northern Virginia

Today, in Northern Virginia, tree pollen is high and grass is medium. Grass pollen season is just beginning.

If you have not had allergy symptoms until today, you could be allergic to grass.

Tree Pollen Is Very High Today

Tree pollen is very high today in Northern Virginia.  It's at the highest level it has been since last year.  If you are not sure what you are allergic to, but you have sinus issues today, there is a good possibility you are allergic to tree pollen.  

If you are allergic to tree pollen, today is a good day to take allergy medicine and stay indoors.  Keep those windows closed.  If you do go outside today, make sure you leave your shoes at the door and wash your hands as soon as you walk indoors to get that pollen off of you.

Pollen Count Is Low Today!

For the first time in over a month, the pollen count is low in Northern Virginia.  The rain has helped wash the pollen out of the air.  It won't last long though.  Wednesday, we will see one of the highest pollen levels since last year!

The main offender is tree pollen, but grass and weed pollen is starting to have some activity.

Tree Pollen Is High

Tree pollen is still high and will be until all the spring flowers fall off the trees.  It has been wreaking havoc on allergy and non-allergy sufferers alike.  I have been hearing about a lot of people experiencing sinus headaches and sinus infections in Northern Virginia in the past week.

Tree Pollen Is High Today In Northern Virginia!

Tree pollen counts are at an 11 on a scale from 0 to 12 in Northern Virginia, which is very high!  Most pollen today is from trees.  Grass pollen is starting to come in to play now.

I have noticed a lot of people with ear and sinus infections and coughs that will not go away.  My cough came back last week and has not gone away.  It is at its worst at night when I lie down.  I have also noticed that I have more congestion in my lungs and I need to use my inhalers more often.

Make sure you take your allergy medicine, take off your shoes before you enter the house and wash your hands once you get in the house to remove pollen and stop it from entering the house.

Pollen count is medium/high for the next couple days

For the next couple days, the pollen count will be medium-high.  The culprit is tree pollen.  All other pollens are absent or low.

For the next few weeks, if you have allergy symptoms, you are most likely allergic to tree pollen.

Use a allergy kit like the Dyson Allergy Cleaning kit to remove pollen and other allergens from your house.  The parts attach to your Dyson vacuum cleaner to help suck up the allergens.  My allergist recommended to Dyson Vacuum cleaner for my house since I have severe allergies.

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High tree pollen alert!

If you live in Washington DC or Northern Virginia, the tree pollen count will be high today and even higher tomorrow!

All trees, including the Cherry blossoms, are coming into bloom.

If you have tree-related allergies, take an allergy pill today.

If you have allergy-induced asthma, keep your fast-acting inhaler close by.

Today's Allergy and Asthma report

Today's pollen count will be low. You should have little to no allergy symptoms thanks to the snow and rain.

Asthma symptoms are moderate today. Especially be careful if you have asthmatic reactions when you go from warm to cold environments.

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Today's Pollen for Northern Virginia and Washington DC

Today's Pollen count for Northern Virginia and Washington DC is low to medium.

The predominant pollen culprits are Elm, Cedar, Juniper, Poplar, Aspen and Cottonwood.  If you are allergic to trees, you may feel some congestion and other allergy symptoms, but nothing too bad.  The light rain today is keeping the pollen count low which helps calm allergy symptoms.

Allergy levels are low.
Asthma levels are moderate.
Cold and Cough are moderate.

I have allergies and asthma (didn't know I had asthma until I moved here).  Today I am not congested or itchy, but I am wheezing.

For those of you who have asthma, make sure you take your long-term inhaler as usual.  Keep your rescue inhaler handy in case you have a wheeze that will not go away throughout the day.  You could also take 1200 mg of Mucinex (or store brand guaifenesin) every 12 hours with LOTS of water.  Mucinex and its generic versions only work to thin chest mucous if you drink lots of water when you take them.

Have a wheeze and sneeze-free day!!!