Got the Sniffles? A Ragweed Remediation

Early fall is prime time for allergies, and in Birmingham, ragweed, elm, and sage/sagebrush are the primary allergens at work right now. Ragweed plants, which only live for one season, mature as nights get longer in late summer and early fall, releasing up to one billion pollen grains per plant! Seventy-five percent of Americans who are allergic to pollen-producing plants are allergic to ragweed, of which there are seventeen different species growing throughout the United States.

While wet weather can give you some allergy relief, pollen levels will creep up again when things dry out. If you're sniffling, there are easy ways to reduce your exposure to outdoor allergens, including ragweed:
--Minimize your outdoor activity in the early morning (5-10am), when pollens are usually emitted, and avoid raking leaves or cutting grass, which can stir up pollens.
--While it may be tempting to open windows on cool nights, keeping them closed can reduce pollen concentrations inside your home.
--Keeping the air conditioner on can help filter and dry the air, which will also help to reduce exposure.
--Don't hang laundry items outside to dry, where pollens and molds can collect on them.

Fun Fact: Ragweed pollens can travel considerable distances on breezy days - pollens have been found up to 400 miles out to sea, and two miles up in the atmosphere!