Ragweed Season: What You Need to Know

As the summer heat begins to fade and the crisp fall weather returns, many people often welcome the first signs of autumn. However, for people who suffer from seasonal allergies, summer fun can quickly turn to fall misery. The main culprit? Ragweed pollen. Affecting an estimated 50 million people in the U.S., it’s one of the most common triggers of fall allergies.

For those sensitive to ragweed, this time of year can be full of sneezing, stuffy or runny noses, intensified asthma symptoms and more. While there’s no cure for ragweed allergies, knowing its symptoms and how to manage them can help make the allergy season much more manageable.

 

What is Ragweed?

Ragweed is an annual plant, which means it grows, releases its pollen and dies all in one season. Unfortunately, there are 17 different types of ragweed that grow in North America. Most types have greenish flowers that grow on tall spikes and branch out from the ground up. Ragweed appears in both rural areas and cities. It’s often spotted along roadsides, riverbanks and empty lots or fields.

Although it might look like any ordinary weed, don’t let appearances deceive you. With a single plant capable of releasing up to a billion pollen grains, this unassuming plant packs a powerful punch. To make matters worse, ragweed’s pollen grains are extremely lightweight, which makes it easy for the wind to carry them across long distances. As a result, allergy symptoms can be triggered miles away from where the plant actually grows.

When is Ragweed Season?

Fall allergy symptoms traditionally began in mid-August and lasted through September. In many parts of the country, however, they now start as soon as early August and can persist into October. In Oklahoma, for example, the pollination season of ragweed typically starts in August and lasts until a hard freeze kills the plant. This year, OAAC has already reported high ragweed counts, with high alert days starting as early as the third week of August.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Ragweed Pollen Allergies?

Ragweed allergies occur when the body’s immune system treats the allergen as a foreign invader. This starts a chemical reaction that produces and sends histamine throughout the bloodstream, triggering allergy symptoms as a result.

If you are allergic to ragweed, you’ll likely notice symptoms develop when ragweed pollen is in the air. Common symptoms of ragweed allergies can include:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, ears, eyes and mouth
• Red and watery eyes
• Swelling around the eyes
• Moody and irritable
• Tiredness
• Sleeping issues

Ragweed pollen can also aggravate asthma symptoms, leading to increased coughing or wheezing for those who have asthma. Additionally, in some cases it may trigger seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever.

 

Managing Symptoms

Managing a ragweed pollen allergy can be challenging, but there are a few practical steps you can take to reduce exposure and help keep your symptoms under control.

• Limit outdoor exposure: After receiving a proper diagnosis, limiting outdoor time and exposure to the allergen is the best way to keep symptoms under control. On days when ragweed pollen counts are high, especially on windy days when pollen is traveling far and wide, try to keep your outdoor time to a minimum.
• Track and monitor local pollen counts: Keeping up to date with local pollen levels may seem challenging, but OAAC makes it easy with the daily Pollen and Mold Report. Data collected onsite at our main clinic is posted Monday-Friday on our website, as well as our social media accounts. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. You can also find resources for regional pollen counts through resources like The National Allergy BureauTM (NAB).
• Keep doors and windows closed: Prevent pollen from entering your home by closing doors and windows during peak ragweed season. Use air conditioners with HEPA or allergen-specific filters to help maintain clean indoor air. Utilizing air purifiers is also a great way to more aggressively combat allergens inside your home.
• Shower after spending time outside: A simple remedy to keep in mind throughout ragweed season is to hop in the shower after spending time outdoors. Think about it like washing your hands: anything you don’t wash off, you take with you to the couch, the bed and your pillows.

Prevention and Treatment

While avoiding ragweed pollen entirely isn’t always possible, several different treatment options can help manage symptoms and improve your quality of life during allergy season.

• Talk to your doctor or an allergist: Start by speaking to your doctor about medications that may provide temporary relief from symptoms. An allergist can perform a physical exam, ask about your health history and conduct allergy testing to determine what you are and are not allergic to. Knowing exactly what you’re allergic to can help you take more targeted steps toward relief.
• Antihistamines: Often available over the counter, these medications block the histamines released by your body during an allergic reaction, working to reduce sneezing, itching, runny nose and congestion.
• Allergy shots: Also referred to as immunotherapy, allergy shots work by gradually introducing small amounts of what you are allergic to into the body to build up tolerance over time. This process helps desensitize your body to the allergen, dramatically reducing or eliminating your allergy symptoms. Because allergy shots can treat numerous allergens at the same time and make future allergy seasons less miserable, this is often the most effective allergy treatment option.
• Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) allergy tablets: Your allergist or immunologist may also recommend sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which is another long-term treatment approach that can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis.

 

Take Control of Your Allergies with Expert Care

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, don’t wait to seek professional help. Getting started with an allergist is easy and can give you the tools you need to make the best out of even your worst season.

With over 100 years of experience helping Oklahomans navigate life with allergies, our specialists at The Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic are here to help. Schedule a consultation today at (405) 235-0040.