Your allergies could flare up in the coming weeks. Here's why
Patients of all ages often experience heightened allergy symptoms during the grass pollen season, which is worsened by summer lawn mowing.
Feeling congested? You're not alone.
Dr. Mariam Hanna, a specialist in allergy, asthma, and immunology, reports that about 20 to 25 percent of Canadians may experience allergies at any time.
As summer approaches, it's important to be aware of specific triggers, such as tree pollen, which is most prevalent early in the season.
“In some regions in Ontario, there's a lot of birch and oak and ash maple trees as well,” says Hanna. “[Allergies are] unique to what part of the province and what province you are living in. We can expect that warm weather and some dry wind to be kind of the perfect storm for all that pollen to get released. Those pollens are travelling thousands of kilometres in the region and really helping that pollen spread.”
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Next is grass pollen, which can start as early as spring.
“Patients, from children all the way to adults, can definitely notice their symptoms flaring up during that grass pollen season, and this is one that tends to have a longer season, traditionally and accentuated by all of us mowing our front lawns all throughout the summer,” says Hanna.
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Next up: mould spores.
“It's not the mould you're looking at,” explains Hanna. “It's the spore that you can't see that's bothering you. It's the very fine particles. Those are the ones that are irritating to our eyes, nose, and our airways. Hot, humid weather during the summer—mould spores will definitely come out during that time.”
People with mould spore allergies may experience coughing, itchy eyes, hay fever, asthma and/or other symptoms. (Stock image)
Late in the season, ragweed can become a trigger—but whether or not this will impact you will depend on what part of the country you’re in.
“Ragweed typically comes in the middle of August and is there up until the cooler fall weather starts to affect us,” Hanna says. “Ragweed is not actually found throughout Canada. There are certain regions, particularly like southwestern Ontario into Quebec, where we definitely see ragweed pollen in there.”
“The first way that you could try to find some level of relief is when you understand that the pollen counts are high during that time, particularly limiting your exposure outside, because that's really where those pollens and those spores are hanging out. And if you can hang out inside or turn on the AC during that time, that may help to reduce some of the symptoms that you're going to experience.”
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You can find out if pollen counts are high in your area simply by checking The Weather Network's pollen report on our app or website.
(The Weather Network)