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Patients & Consumers Online Tools Find an Allergist / Immunologist Pollen Counts Diseases 101 Drug Guide Featured Resources » AAAAI Tips Brochures Topic of the Month Information Request Form Donate Now En Español Just for Kids Seniors Associates Research Highlights Patients & Consumers Contact Search by Condition (A-Z) Request a Speaker Smoke Free Homes Referral Guidelines Other Resources En Español Just for Kids Seniors		Allergy & Asthma Advocate: Spring 2005 Understanding pollen counts in allergies and asthma By Clifford W. Bassett, MD, FAAAAI Each spring brings allergy symptoms to over tens of millions of seasonal allergy sufferers in the United States. Among the most common culprits are a variety of tree and grass pollens and, in some regions, weed pollens as well. Pollens are tiny male cells that are carried by the wind to pollinate and continue the growth of new grasses, weeds and trees. It is these tiny pollen grains that cause seasonal symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and wheezing for those with allergies. Wind is the major mechanism of dispersing tree, grass and weed pollens. Molds represent another class of common airborne allergens seen each year throughout the spring, summer and fall in the United States. Mold spores are microscopic fungi that float in the air during many months of the year in most areas of the country. Outdoor mold counts peak during the warmer months. Understanding the relationship between the level of pollen and mold spores measured in your particular area, and the pattern of allergy symptoms you experience, will help you and your doctor to design a more effective treatment plan to control your allergy symptoms. Pollen and mold counting methods The counting of pollens and molds originated over 100 years ago as pollen hunters studied the quantity of the collected pollens on adhesive slides. Today various methods are used to identify and measure the concentration of airborne pollens and mold spores. A standard period of sampling is generally 24 hours, and the total number of individual type/pollen grains per 24-hour period is reported as the “pollen count.” The National Allergy Bureau is the nation’s only pollen and mold counting network certified by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). These pollen and mold counts are available to the public via the AAAAI Web site, www.aaaai.org. This information allows individuals with seasonal allergies to better adjust their outdoor activities on days with higher pollen counts, and reduce related complaints such as sneezing, stuffy nose and itchiness of the eyes and throat. Allergy sufferers should first see an allergist/immunologist to be tested, and identify which pollens and molds may be causing their discomfort. An allergist/immunologist can help develop strategies to avoid plants that cause allergic sensitivity reactions, as well as identifying trees, shrubs, plants and grasses found to be less problematic for allergy sufferers. For example, if you’re a gardener, you can select the best plants that will cause the smallest impact on your seasonal suffering. But remember, pollen can travel miles with the wind, so it is impossible to control your pollen exposure by re-landscaping your yard. Weather changes and pollen counts Climate and weather conditions such as hot, dry and windy days mean greater amounts of pollen and molds dispersed into the noses, eyes and lungs of sufferers. Allergy pollen counts and allergy symptoms tend to decrease on days that are wet, cloudy and windless. A prolonged rain is nature’s way of washing pollen from the air. But beware of spring thunderstorms. They may actually stir up the pollen and make symptoms worse. Pollen and mold affect asthma Most people do not even realize that allergies trigger their asthma, but more than half of patients with asthma have allergies. For patients with both allergic rhinitis and asthma, control is often better if nasal symptoms are also controlled. Escaping your allergy symptoms Unfortunately, moving to another part of the country to try to escape seasonal exposure to outdoor allergens rarely is successful. There are numerous similar allergens found in other pollinating plants in other parts of the country, although pollen levels are typically lower near a body of water such as a lake or ocean beach. An allergy sufferer may also become allergic to airborne pollens in a new area after a period of exposure, and the familiar seasonal itching and sneezing won’t be far behind. For more information on how pollen counts affect allergies and asthma, visit the AAAAI Web site, www.aaaai.org. Pollen and molds counts are also available to the public via the AAAAI Web site. Simply choose the Pollen Counts tab on the home page. <back>
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