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If you’re allergic to pollen, then you know just how easily it can ruin a good time. For some people, they don’t even have to be outside to find themselves with a case of the sniffles (or worse) because of a high pollen count. That’s why if you have a pollen allergy, it’s essential to be aware of when the pollen counts are at their lowest, between dawn and noon, so you know when is the best time to do outside activities.
Pollen allergies are extremely common. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in 2021 alone, 81 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with seasonal allergies (seasonal allergic rhinitis), with 67 million of those people being adults and 14 million being children. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, is an allergic reaction to pollen and can occur during the spring, summer, and fall months. With increasing global temperatures and other environmental and climate factors, scientists have found that pollen rates are increasing, per the authors of “Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change,” which means more allergic reactions are to come.
With that threat hanging over your head, organizing your schedule around when pollen counts are low to minimize exposure might not be enough. You may also want to talk to your doctor about medication if over-the-counter options aren’t cutting it, or consider investing in an air purifier to maximize your protection from pollen.
Why pollen counts change throughout the day
Even if you don’t currently suffer from pollen allergies, considering all the signs pointing toward it getting worse on a global level, it’s a topic worth understanding. According to a 2022 study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, pollen count changes hourly, and some of that has to do with the weather. As the study found, the lowest pollen levels occur between 4 a.m. and noon. After noon, pollen levels gradually rise, typically peaking between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Then the cycle repeats itself.
But while that’s the case, because the weather does play a role as well, paying attention to what’s going on outside, no matter the time of day, is important too. For example, wind can easily pick up pollen, blowing it around and carrying it either further away or closer to some areas, which can contribute to the pollen count. Both sun and warmer temperatures encourage plants to stretch out their limbs and grow, therefore producing more pollen. While the rain also inspires plant growth, it can actually lower pollen counts because it can wash the pollen away, per the Royal Meteorological Society, giving allergy sufferers a moment to breathe deeply without an onslaught of sneezes.
How to manage your pollen allergy
As scientists have long predicted, pollen is on the rise. In other words, with each passing year, we can expect allergy season to be more and more difficult to manage. Because of this, knowing not only what time of day pollen is at its highest and lowest but also what pollen is at its peak based on your location is something you definitely want to be aware of. Tree pollen season is the first to hit after the winter months, followed by grass pollen in the summer, then ragweed pollen takes center stage in the fall before everything closes up shop during the cold weather.
As peak pollen months begin, it’s time to prepare to tackle your pollen allergy. First and foremost, avoid being outside when the pollen is at its highest. You also want to keep pollen out of your home as much as possible. This means not only keeping windows and doors closed but immediately removing any clothing that spent too much time outside — toss that in the washing machine stat. You can also turn to antihistamines to help. For example, Zyrtec has 24-hour allergy relief pills that people with allergies swear by. You want to stay informed, too, so make a habit of checking the pollen count every day through a website like The Weather Channel or a local TV station. Last, but certainly not least, never leave home without travel-size tissues during allergy season because you’re going to need them.
