Spring Allergies
Why is April the worse time of the year for allergy and asthma in our clinic here in Fargo, North Dakota?
April is a common month where I see a lot of people with allergy and asthma symptoms. This is because of the windy days and the start of tree pollination. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, April has the highest mean wind speeds for the year in Fargo.
There were rarely any tree pollens in the vast prairie in the past. Sources of pollens then were indigenous trees near rivers and streams. The Red River Valley in eastern North Dakota is the largest. April 2011 counts here.
Now an interesting fact is that North Dakota lead the nation in planted trees from shelter belts to protect farm lands from high winds. So today, the combination of transplanted and indigenous trees pollinating the the spring, is a major cause of allergy and asthma exacerbation.
Weather can influence hay fever symptoms. Allergy symptoms are often minimal on days that are rainy, cloudy or windless, because pollen does not move about during these conditions. Hot, dry and windy weather signals greater pollen and mold distribution and thus, increased allergy symptomsWe will start counting pollens and molds now, or when the weather is conducive to release of pollens. Trees are most common at the start, first with alder, ash, maple, box elder, then elm, oak, birch, pine, and walnut. What does the pollen and mold counts mean, and what can we do about it?Details of when these pollens are released are and the significance of the counts are on our web site at, www.asthma-allergy.com. We count and report allergens in Fargo/Moorhead and Bismarck area. National Allergy Bureau at http://www.aaaai.org/nab/ offers an exciting new option to receive pollen counts by e-mail. By signing up for a basic membership you can establish a “myNAB” site that lists current pollen count information from your local community. If you provide your e-mail address, you will qualify for a “premium” membership that offers a special e-mail alert system to notify you of new pollen data in your area through your e-mail. Sign up today! A board certified allergist can help with discussing with you effective means of not just coping, but actively doing something about your allergy and asthma. We cannot control mother nature, but we can be pro-active with means of avoidance you may have not thought about. Details are discussed on the tips and links above. Some may need additional medications and allergy immunotherapy and vaccines.
A hand out featured tip hand out on Outdoor Allergens and 10 tips to relieve your allergy symptoms is available at http://www.aaaai.org/patients.stm .
SNOW MOLD. FACT OR FICTION? Read discussion on my blog on this topic.
snow mold in our back yard spring 2011
