Start stockpiling tissues: The worst winter in years is about to give way to the worst allergy season.
Allergists are predicting a sneezy spring in the Northeast because of the long, cold winter and higher-than-average snowfall.
“We’re going to get a bumper crop of pollen starting, I would bet, next week,” said Dr. Paul Ehrlich, an allergy/asthma/immunology specialist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. “Because the weather has been so cold, we sort of picture trees sitting with their hands on their hips saying ‘alright, we’ll wait, and then we’ll pour on the pollen.'”
“The cold weather actually makes it better for trees to pollinate,” agreed Dr. Timothy Mainardi of Hudson Allergy Tribeca. “We had a tremendous amount of snow this year, and all that moisture is currently being drunk up by the trees.”
Some people will experience a slight delay in onset of their spring allergies because the cold weather has kept trees like birch, oak and maple from releasing their pollen, Ehrlich said.
A truncated season means the pollen packs a bigger punch when it does arrive, and allergy sufferers won’t feel the usual leveling-off of their symptoms.
Mold allergies may also act up because of the wet winter, said Mainardi.
“Mold absolutely loves moisture,” he said. “The moisture that we generated this year in the form of snow is going to make all of those symptoms worse.”
Now that you’ve been warned, follow these tips to prevent allergies from spoiling your spring:
Start medicating early. The chilly weather may have put your mind off allergies, but allergists advise starting your usual course of medication a week or two before the regular season. “There’s still time to do it now, although the window is closing,” Ehrlich said. Many people will feel better taking over-the-counter antihistamines on a regular basis. In other cases, prescription meds or allergy injections may work better.
Know what you’re allergic to. If you’re experiencing symptoms for the first time, an allergist can tell you whether you’re allergic to trees, grass, mold or something else, which can help you know when to expect the onslaught, Mainardi said.
Take care during spring workouts. “Avoid exercising outdoors at dawn and dusk – that’s the time pollen is the worst,” Ehrlich said.
Keep pollen out of your home. Take off your shoes before you come in from outdoors, don’t throw your clothes on your bed, and take a quick shower to get the pollen out of your hair, Mainardi advised. People with severe allergies should avoid leaving the windows open, but a wall air conditioning unit can help keep spores from entering the home.
tmiller@nydailynews.com
