Pollen Count Meridian (2024)

FAQs

Who has the most accurate pollen count? ›

You can visit the National Allergy Bureau for daily pollen count information. Many local news websites and TV stations report the pollen count as well.

As a result, a high overall pollen count doesn't always indicate a strong concentration of the specific pollen to which you're allergic. The opposite can be true, too: The pollen count might be low, but you might find yourself around one of the pollens that triggers your allergies.

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.

Take extra steps when pollen counts are high

If high pollen counts are forecasted, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start. Close doors and windows at night if possible or any other time when pollen counts are high. Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.

The months that register a higher pollen count are April, May and September. With the onset of winter, the pollen density drops away although allergy sufferers can still be affected by indoor allergens, such as dust, pet dander or mould spores.

Worst Cities and States for Allergies

States with a lot of trees, grass, and weeds will have a lot of allergens. Areas in the Northeast U.S. like Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. Virginia, Kansas, and Texas have a high rate of allergens.

This means allergies and immune system function are inherently linked. Allergic reactions cause inflammation throughout your body. This is part of your immune system's natural defense mechanism, but if left untreated, chronic inflammation can contribute to disease and poor immune system health.

Older adults tend to have more chronic conditions and experience a decline in the functioning of several organs, both of which can heighten an allergic response. Aging can potentially worsen any allergy, including hypersensitivities to food, medications, insect bites, and pollen.

Immunotherapy is exposing a person to an allergen to try to alter the immune system, so the person no longer responds to the allergen in an adverse way. By training your body to accept an allergen, it is possible to develop a tolerance to avoid adverse reactions.

Pollen: Rain prevents pollen from traveling and can be a relief for some people with this common allergy. However, it can also increase pollen exposure when pollen is broken into smaller particles. Pollen counts also sometimes increase significantly right after rainstorms.

Does wearing a mask help with pollen allergies? ›

Masks provide enough protection to block common allergens, including pollen, dust mites, and mold. However, they're not an effective choice for all seasonal or other allergies. Any mask can help reduce allergy symptoms, but N95 masks are often the best choice, followed by surgical masks.

We recommend cetirizine for initial treatment. Third-generation antihistamines: levocetirizine (Xyzal), desloratadine (Clarinex). 'Improved' versions of second-generation products. May work better or have better side effect profile but this has not been proven and the products are generally more expensive.

Drinking plenty of water each day is a good idea anyway^3,4, but it can be especially beneficial when you're struggling with allergies⁵. Your body produces more histamines (the chemicals that lead to allergy symptoms) when it's dehydrated⁶, so drinking water may potentially help reduce your allergy symptoms.

For people with allergies, scientific studies have shown that air filtration reduces these airborne allergens and may provide some relief. Experts recommend two types of filtration: For a single room, look for an air cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

Each plant species releases its pollen at a different time of year, but spring and fall tend to have the highest concentrations.