Winter is over! While that thought may bring a smile to your face, a bounty of spring allergens and air quality concerns await America’s 50 million nasal allergy sufferers. To help your lungs, body, and respiratory system stay happy and healthy, learn when the most spring allergens are in bloom in your state, which flora are the key culprits, and how to combat and prevent the pesky side effects.
Northeast
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: May
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
Although there are over a dozen trees, grasses, and weeds that cause allergies each spring in the Northeast, the following produce the most intense allergies for people who live in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan:
- Juniper
- Cottonwood
- Maple
- Mulberry
- Oak
- Pecan
- Sycamore
- Black Walnut
- Plantain Weed
- Bermuda Grass
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye Grass
- Timothy Grass
- Pigweed
- Marsh-Elder
- Ragweed
- Russian Thistle
- Sage
Tips to Treat or Prevent Spring Allergies
Consult your doctor about over-the-counter allergy medicines like nasal sprays, eye drops, and antihistamine pills. Like headache or cough medicine, these pharmaceuticals can alleviate uncomfortable allergy symptoms like itchy skin and eyes, coughing, wheezing, and sneezing.
Southeast
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: May and June
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
If you live in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, watch out for the following weeds, trees, and grasses that cause the worst allergies in spring:
- Ash
- Juniper
- Maple
- Oak
- Sycamore
- Black Walnut
- Bermuda Grass
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye Grass
- Plantain Weed
- Pigweed
- Kochia
- Ragweed
- Russian Thistle
- Sage
Tips to Treat or Prevent Spring Allergies
Ever noticed how the weather channel monitors pollen count? That’s because it’s an air quality concern. On days with lots of pollen in the air, keep your windows closed—especially if it’s windy—so pollen doesn’t blow into your home and aggravate allergies, asthma, and other breathing conditions.
South Central
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: May
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
The trees, grasses, and weeds that cause the worst spring allergies in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana are:
- Ash
- Pigweed
- Juniper
- Kochia
- Maple
- Oak
- Russian Thistle
- Sage
- Ragweed
- Plantain
- Scales
- Sycamore
- Bermuda Grass
- Black Walnut
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye Grass
- Timothy Grass
Midwest
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: May
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
People in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Iowa are likely to suffer from the following plants because they cause the worst allergy symptoms:
- Ash
- Pigweed
- Juniper
- Kochia
- Cottonwood
- Elm
- Marsh-elder
- Maple
- Mulberry
- Oak
- Plantain
- Russian Thistle
- Pecan
- Sycamore
- Black Walnut
- Bermuda Grass
- Bermuda
- Brome
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye
- Timothy Grass
- Sage
- Ragweed
Tips to Treat or Prevent Spring Allergies
If you have persistent and severe spring allergies, you can talk to your doctor about allergy shots. This exposure therapy is administered over a long period of time to build up an immunity to certain allergens.
Northwest
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: June
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
Here are the trees, grasses, and weeds that produce the strongest spring allergies for people living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana:
- Ash
- Kochia
- Birch
- Marsh-elder
- Juniper
- Cottonwood
- Oak
- Ragweed
- Russian Thistle
- Sage
- Plantain
- Sycamore
- Black Walnut
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Meadow Fescue
- Brome
- Orchard Grass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye
- Timothy Grass
Tips to Treat or Prevent Spring Allergies
If you suffer from intense springtime allergies, get an air purifier! These machines help eliminate everything from pollen to airborne allergens, germs, and odors from your home’s air. Find the right air purifier to help you stay healthy.
Southwest
When The Most Spring Allergens Are In Bloom: May and June
Worst Allergens and Air Quality Offenders
If you live in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, your might notice the worst allergies when exposed to:
- Ash
- Pigweed
- Kochia
- Juniper
- Plantain
- Maple
- Ragweed
- Russian Thistle
- Scales
- Sage
- Oak
- Sycamore
- Black Walnut
- Bermuda Grass
- Meadow Fescue
- Rye
- Meadow Fescue
- Timothy Grass
Tips to Treat or Prevent Spring Allergies
There isn’t much humidity in the southwest, which makes it harder for your nose to stay moist and produce mucus to keep pollen and airborne contaminants out of your body! By purchasing a humidifier, you’ll add that essential moisture back into your home’s air. A simpler solution would be to administer a few spritzes of saline spray to your nostrils daily.
As the weather warms and you start to get outside more, remember which plants wreak the most havoc in your area—and tips to stay healthy during spring allergy season! That way, you can enjoy the sun, picnics, and other fun springtime activities in peace.
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