Dr. Dvorin on NJ.com: “It’s coming. Get ready for a big pollen burst as temps heat up.”

April 2, 2018

As published on NJ.com by Spencer Kent

Each year, millions of people welcome spring’s beauty with equal scorn because of the misery pollen brings.

Some of that nasty pollen was already supposed to be here by now, but the snow and persistent cold weather have delayed the season. 

But, with temperatures expected to warm in the coming days, the pollen will arrive in a forceful wave, experts say.

So for all you allergy sufferers out there whose nasal tracts woo pollen like a magnet, it’s time to start stocking up on that Benadryl.

via GIPHY

When is the pollen going to hit?

Donald J. Dvorin, a Mount Laurel-based allergy specialist, said he expects a significant uptick in pollen within the next two weeks.

“We are beyond the usual time — very odd this year,” Dvorin said. “But, (we’re) getting ready for an increase in temperature — which is crucial for trees in pollination.”

How bad is this year going to be?

Good question. Some experts say it it’s unclear at this point. But Dvorin, who is also a certified pollen counter, said New Jersey could see some significant pollen counts this season.

“It is a really hard call, but I would say high because of so much moisture,” he said.

Could a delay mean a more mild season?

No, a delay of pollen from all the cold weather does not necessarily mean we’ll see a more mild season.

Catherine Monteleone, an allergist-immunologist at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, said, “You never really know until the season gets here … It could be short and very intense, or drawn out. If you get a lot of rain during the season, it dampens the effects because it washes it out.”

How does allergy season work?

As it starts to get warmer outside, the buds of trees start to open and pollination begins. It’s then a domino effect, with all sorts of nasty allergens emerging at different times during the season.

Here are the various pollens and when they strike during the year:

• Tree pollen — early and late spring (also can emerge in late winter)
• Grass pollen — late spring and early summer
• Mold — summer
• Ragweed — late summer and fall

First spring pollen sighted in South Jersey

If you’re already sneezing and wheezing in South Jersey, that’s because trees pollen has been significantly climbing in the region, according to Dvorin, who, for the last 26 years, has monitored the region’s pollen using a pollen-trapping device.

What are the current pollen counts?

The tree pollen counts have also been spiking in the northern New Jersey region in recent days, according to the Springfield-based Allergy and Asthma Centers Starx of New Jersey. Pollen levels are measured based on grains per cubic meter, with high levels falling between 90 and 1,500 grains per cubic meter. New Jersey is currently on the lower end at 91.

What about mold?

And then there’s mold. While pollen is usually the biggest concern during allergy season, Dvorin said mold could pose an issue this year — and earlier than usual. Though mold spores typically emerge during the summertime, Dvorin said there could be a significant spike in mold spores in the coming weeks.

“Mold spores have been suppressed by the cold air and snow, (but) we may see a surge in mold in the next two weeks,” he said.

What types of tree pollen will be floating during spring?

Dvorin said he’s already measured pollen from birch and cottonwood trees in South Jersey. But, in the coming weeks, he said he expects to see a spike in pollen from juniper, cedar and maple. Later in the season, around mid- to late April, he said we’ll start to see more oak, birch and pine tree pollen.

“Oak should be starting very soon,” he said, adding that oak is usually “the most prolific tree pollen” during allergy season.

The last week of April into May is when grass pollen begins its surge, he said.

Are allergy seasons getting worse?

Researchers estimate that around 25 million Americans suffer from hay fever — which produces the symptoms we normally associate with seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). And the rate has only been increasing each year, largely due to climate change.

According to the AAFA, rising temperatures between 1995 and 2011 — caused by climate change — have caused pollen season to be 11 to 27 days longer, creating “more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens and more allergy symptoms.”

What are the best allergy remedies?

For allergy sufferers, there are plenty of medications and natural remedies out there to ease your pain.

Here are just some of the most popular medications and natural remedies out there:

• Antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec)
• Nasal steroid sprays (Flonase, Nasacort and Nasonex)

Some people, however, might prefer herbal remedies. Here are some treatments, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health:

• Aller-7
• Tinospora cordifolia (heart-leaved moonseed)
• Perilla frutescens (beefsteak plant)

Monteleone said people with severe seasonal allergies should start taking medication early as a preventative measure.

“Get to the drug store and start early,” she said. “You don’t want to wait until your miserable — it doesn’t work as well. If you’re having horrible nasal congestion, it’s harder for the medicines to work.”

Original article published on NJ.com

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