Fall Allergies in Oklahoma: What's Making You Miserable?
Fall in Oklahoma means cooler mornings, football, changing leaves—and, unfortunately for allergy sufferers, plenty of pollen.
If you've been sneezing, sniffling or rubbing itchy eyes lately, you're certainly not alone. September is prime fall allergy season in Oklahoma, with ragweed and other weeds filling the air with pollen. But there's another culprit that may surprise you: Elm pollen.
Yes, elm. In the fall.
Surprise! Oklahoma Has a Fall Elm Season
Most of us think of trees as spring allergy offenders. And that's generally true. But Oklahoma is a little different.
Central Oklahoma experiences a second elm pollen season from late August into October, thanks largely to fall-pollinating elm varieties including cedar elm and lacebark or Chinese elm. Cedar elm actually produces its flowers and fruit in the fall.
Research examining 25 years of airborne pollen in Tulsa found a distinct fall elm season, typically beginning in late August and extending into early October. Researchers also found that the intensity of fall elm pollen increased significantly over the study period.
So when elm shows up alongside weeds on an Oklahoma fall pollen report, it isn't a mistake.
For people allergic to elm, it can mean another round of sneezing, nasal congestion, drainage and itchy or watery eyes—right in the middle of ragweed season.
Ragweed: Oklahoma's Fall Allergy Heavyweight
Elm may be the surprise, but ragweed remains one of the biggest reasons Oklahoma allergy sufferers dread late summer and fall.
Ragweed typically begins pollinating around mid-August as the days become shorter. Unfortunately, Oklahoma's growing season can allow weed pollen to linger until a hard freeze, sometimes well into November.
Maya Gharfeh, M.D., MPH
Dr. Maya Gharfeh of the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma clinic says that this year’s extended heat wave has contributed to a harsher ragweed season.
"The hotter the climate, there is more ragweed that is able to grow in it, and so you have more volume," Gharfeh said.
Ragweed pollen is tiny, lightweight and easily carried by the wind. You don't need ragweed growing in your own backyard to be exposed.
"Ragweed is a very light allergen, and so it doesn't take a whole lot of it to get carried very far," Gharfeh said.
Common symptoms include:
- Repeated sneezing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Itchy nose and throat
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Postnasal drainage
- Coughing
- Poor sleep and fatigue
- Worsening asthma symptoms in some people
Ragweed Isn't the Only Weed in the Air
Oklahoma's fall weed season isn't a one-pollen show. Other weeds can contribute to the fall pollen load, including chenopods, pigweed, marsh elder and other late-summer and fall weeds. Depending on an individual's sensitivities, several pollens may be contributing to symptoms at the same time.
That's one reason some days can feel particularly miserable even when the ragweed count alone doesn't appear extraordinary.
And Oklahoma Isn't Finished With Grass Yet
Think grass season ended with summer? Not necessarily.
Warm-season grasses—including Bermuda, Bahia, crabgrass and Johnson grass—can continue pollinating in Central Oklahoma until a good hard freeze.
For someone sensitive to both grass and weeds, early fall can create an unfortunate overlap of allergens.
Then there's mold...
Pollen isn't the only outdoor allergen causing trouble in an Oklahoma fall.
Mold is one of the most overlooked fall allergens. Our daily counts find mold spores in central Oklahoma’s air nearly every day of the year, unless there’s a very hard freeze or snow on the ground.
Fall gives mold plenty to work with. As leaves drop and start to break down, they become a feeding ground for mold. Every time you rake a leaf pile, or the wind kicks one up, millions of tiny spores go airborne.
Mold also hides in places you might not think about:
- Leaves packed into gutters, close to windows and doors
- Damp mulch and flower beds
- Firewood stacked outside or brought indoors
- Compost piles and yard waste
The molds most often behind allergy symptoms include Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Some release spores on dry, windy days. Others spread when it’s foggy, dewy or humid. Oklahoma’s fall weather swings between both.
Mold can also play a frustrating trick. Spore counts often climb just as ragweed winds down and the first frost approaches. Many people feel relief for a few days, then find their sneezing, congestion and coughing come right back.
Indoor Air Quality: When the Windows Close
Staying inside on high-pollen days helps, but your home has allergens of its own. Fall is when many of them get stirred up.
The first furnace run. Dust settles in your ducts and on your heating system all summer. The first time you turn on the heat, that dust gets blown through the whole house. A dusty or slightly burning smell on the first cold night is usually just that dust burning off.
Dust mites. When the air conditioner shuts off for the season, indoor humidity tends to rise. Dust mites thrive in that moisture, especially in bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture. Keeping indoor humidity below about 60 percent helps limit both dust mites and mold.
Open windows on nice days. A mild October afternoon is tempting, but open windows pull outdoor pollen and mold spores straight inside.
Pet dander. Pets spend more time indoors as it cools off, and dander builds up in closed-up homes. Pets that go outside can also carry pollen in on their coats.
Fireplaces, candles and dry air. Wood smoke and candle soot can irritate sensitive airways. Once the heat is running steadily, dry indoor air can make noses and throats feel raw.
Other Fall Triggers to Watch
The September asthma peak. September sees more asthma-related emergency room visits and hospital stays than any other month of the year. The spike usually hits around the third week of the month. It’s no coincidence: ragweed is peaking, mold is climbing, kids are back in school sharing colds, and flu season is starting. Many children also slip out of their daily asthma routine over the summer, which leaves their airways less protected.
Smoke from burn season. Fall is one of Oklahoma’s two main seasons for prescribed burns and fires, especially in the southeastern forests and the tallgrass prairie of northeastern Oklahoma. Smoke can travel far from the fire itself and irritate eyes and airways. For people with asthma, it can trigger flare-ups.
Oklahoma wind. Our famous wind keeps pollen, dust and mold spores moving. It’s a big reason Oklahoma allergies can feel worse than in other parts of the country. In western Oklahoma, wind-blown dust adds to the load.
Oklahoma's Fall Allergy Lineup
On a typical Oklahoma fall day, allergy sufferers may be encountering several things at once: Ragweed + other weed pollen + fall elm pollen + lingering grass pollen + mold spores.
No wonder your nose isn't happy.
And Oklahoma weather can make matters worse. Warm, dry and windy conditions help pollen become airborne and travel. Rain may temporarily wash pollen from the air, although counts can rise again as vegetation dries and winds return.
How Can You Reduce Your Exposure?
You can't completely avoid Oklahoma pollen, but you can reduce how much of it follows you through the day.
Check the daily pollen and mold report so you know what's elevated. On particularly high days, consider limiting extended outdoor activities, especially if you're very sensitive.
Keep windows closed and use air conditioning when pollen is high. After spending significant time outside, change clothes and consider showering and washing your hair before bed so you aren't transferring pollen to your pillow.
Sunglasses can help keep airborne pollen out of your eyes, and wearing a mask while mowing or raking leaves may reduce exposure to both pollen and mold.
Other Fall allergy survival tips:
Outdoors
- Check our daily pollen and mold counts at oklahomaallergy.com before planning outdoor time, and limit time outside on high-count days.
- Keep windows and doors closed, especially on warm, windy days. Use the air conditioner instead.
- Wear a dust mask when raking leaves, mowing or doing other yard work.
- Clean out your gutters and don’t let leaf piles sit and rot near the house.
- Wash your hands after being outside or petting an animal that’s been outdoors.
Indoors
- Replace your furnace and AC filters before the first cold night, and keep changing them regularly. HEPA filters capture the vast majority of pollen, dander and dust.
- Dust or vacuum your vents before turning on the heat for the season.
- Shower and change clothes after spending time outside so you don’t carry pollen into bed.
- Wash bedding in hot water every week, and consider allergen-proof covers for pillows and mattresses.
- Use a HEPA air purifier in bedrooms and the rooms you use most.
- Keep indoor humidity in check, and fix leaks or damp spots where mold can grow.
For asthma
- Make sure asthma action plans and prescriptions are up to date, especially for kids heading back to school.
- Restart any daily controller medications that were skipped over the summer.
- Share your child’s asthma plan and medication list with their school nurse.
In Oklahoma, The First Hard Freeze Is Our Friend
For fall allergy sufferers, cooler temperatures bring more than sweater weather. A good hard freeze finally brings much of Oklahoma's weed and warm-season grass pollination to an end. Until then, ragweed and its fall companions can keep sensitive noses pretty busy.
When to See an Allergist
Over-the-counter medicine helps many people, but it’s time to see a board-certified allergist if:
- Your symptoms last for weeks or return every fall
- Allergy medicines aren’t giving you enough relief
- You’re not sure whether you’re reacting to ragweed, elm, mold or something inside your home
- Allergies are triggering asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath
- Symptoms are affecting your sleep, work or your child’s time at school
Dean Atkinson, M.D., FCAAI
Dr. Dean Atkinson of the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma clinic advises an evaluation with an allergist if symptoms persist despite taking over-the-counter solutions.
“You can use the over-the-counter antihistamines, over the counter nasal steroid sprays. Try to use them fairly regularly, especially nasal steroid sprays to see if they'll help with your nasal symptoms, the sneezing, itching, the runny nose,” he said. “And if those symptoms aren't improved significantly with those, that's when you really need to probably come in and be evaluated to see what it is you're allergic to.”
Seasonal allergies can’t be diagnosed from symptoms alone. An allergist can use simple tests to pinpoint exactly what you’re allergic to, then build a treatment plan around it. That may include prescription medications or allergy immunotherapy, which can reduce your sensitivity over time.
Fall in Oklahoma is too good to spend sneezing. The board-certified allergists at Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic see patients of all ages at our main clinic on the OU Health Sciences Center campus and at our offices in Edmond, Norman and northwest Oklahoma City.
Schedule an appointment today, and let us help you enjoy the season instead of just surviving it.
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