September 4th, 2025

VERY HIGH RANGE: ALLERGY ALERT. COMBINED TREE POLLEN COUNTS REACH VERY HIGH LEVELS ON Thursday, September 4th. ELM TREE POLLEN is at VERY HIGH levels across the region. This is an extreme exposure situation with elm tree species Chinese Elm (also known as Lacebark Elm), a common decorative tree, and Cedar Elm, a native species commonly found in Texas, southwestern, and south-central Oklahoma, pollinating across the region at HIGH and VERY HIGH levels. (While many elm species pollinate in the spring, Chinese elm and Cedar elm pollinate in the fall, typically from August to October.) Severe symptoms may be expected in pollen-sensitive individuals. More seriously allergic people should be advised to stay indoors as much as possible. This is especially true if someone has pollen sensitivity or allergic bronchial asthma.

Ragweed pollen and mold (Cladosporium) counts also remain at HIGH levels, adding to the exposure issues.

Allergy and Asthma patients should follow their Allergy and Asthma Action Plans.

 

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The best way to combat these allergens is to stay in filtered air. OAAC’s board-certified allergists recommend avoiding allergy triggers as the best way to reduce symptoms. These triggers include:

• Limit outdoor activities during days with high pollen counts.
• Keep windows closed (at home or in the car) to keep pollen out.
• Don’t wear your outdoor work clothes in the house; they may have pollen on them.
• Take a shower after coming indoors. Otherwise, pollen in your hair may bother you all night.
• Leave shoes outside or just inside the door so that you don’t track pollen inside your home.
• Wash your hands often. Pollen can stick to your hands when you touch something outside or a pet if it has been outside.
• Wear a dust mask that people like carpenters use (found in hardware stores) when you need to do outdoor tasks such as raking leaves.
• Clean and replace furnace and air conditioner filters often. Using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters is recommended, which remove at least 99 percent of pollen, as well as animal dander, dust, and other particles.

Some other options include medications like nasal sprays and antihistamines, but it needs to be the correct medicine and should be used continuously throughout the season.

Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis, commonly known as “hay fever”) cannot be diagnosed by history alone. A board-certified allergist can diagnose allergies and determine the specific triggers that cause them through simple tests. The allergists at OAAC evaluate and manage patients of all ages from the southwest region.  The main clinic is on the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center campus.  For patient convenience, satellite offices are located in Edmond, Norman, and northwest Oklahoma City.

Visit the OAAC website at www.oklahomaallergy.com to view the addresses for all Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic locations.  To make an initial appointment for an allergy, asthma, or immunology problem or to request more information, please call (405) 235-0040 or visit the website.