Right on the heels of grass pollen comes the ragweed allergy season. It begins in late summer and lasts most of the fall season, leading to millions of cases of hay fever and other respiratory problems.
Experts say that allergy seasons, starting from tree and flower pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer and weeds in fall, are getting longer and more due to climate change (warmer temps and more carbon dioxide leads to higher pollen release by plants).
So expect this fall’s ragweed season to be worse than before. If you have allergies or have a respiratory health condition that’s affected by pollen, here are tips to prepare for and survive ragweed pollen season.
How to Prepare for Ragweed Allergies
Good preparation is an essential part of surviving ragweed allergies. Before ragweed pollen peaks in your area, here are some of the steps you can take to minimize its effects on you.
Have your medication ready including antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. These can help prevent the worst symptoms of ragweed allergies. Ask your doctor which medicines you can start taking ahead of time before you are affected, and which ones will help when you are already experiencing allergy symptoms.
If you’ve been taking allergy shots, keep up with them to build up protection against allergens. If you haven’t started taking shots and you have severe allergies, talk to your doctor about getting them. But they might not help you this fall, as these shots can take over 6 months or even years to start having an effect.
Remove any weeds from your garden to reduce exposure to pollen when you are at home.
How to Protect Yourself During Ragweed Season
Once the ragweed pollen season is in full swing, you need to reduce your exposure to pollen as much as possible. This can be particularly difficult when you go outside. Here are some tips to protect yourself from ragweed allergies.
1. Mask Up Whenever You Go Outside
When you go outside, whether it’s for a walk or to run errands, always wear a mask to avoid breathing in pollen.
Ragweed pollen can travel hundreds of miles. So even if there are few or none where you live, you can still be affected. Keep that mask on.
2. Limit Outdoor Activities
During ragweed season, reduce how much time you spend outdoors. Instead of your usual run or walk, consider going to the gym or getting a treadmill for your home.
This is especially important if you get a severe reaction to ragweed pollen. If you have to go outside, check the forecast for the times when pollen count is low.
In most places, ragweed pollen levels are highest between dawn and midday. But there can still be enough of them in the air to affect you, so you should still wear a mask when venturing outside.
3. Keep Windows and Doors Closed
At home, it’s much easier to control your exposure to ragweed pollen. The most important thing is to keep it from getting inside your home.
Keep windows and doors closed at all times to keep pollen from getting in.
4. Get an Air Purifier
Even if you close doors and windows, some ragweed pollen may still find its way inside. If you have severe allergies and want extra protection, get a HEPA air purifier. The HEPA filter will capture super fine allergens like ragweed pollen, which keeps your indoor air pollen-free.
You can get a large air purifier that can clean the air in a large room, or a smaller unit for your bedside.
How Long Does Ragweed Season Last?
Once it begins around mid-August, ragweed pollen lasts between 6 and 10 weeks. In many places, it lasts until the end of October. A good way to tell it’s over is when you see the first frost. That’s when ragweeds stop producing pollen.
Stay safe till then.
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