Spring is here! This means that quite a few Washingtonians will be pretty miserable as they will be suffering from hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis). In the early Spring, tree pollen is mostly to blame for the annoying symptoms that cause hay fever. Other than tree pollen, molds are also a common environmental allergen that plays havoc with allergy sufferers. It should be noted that tree pollen can exacerbate asthma as well as cause allergic eye symptoms (i.e., allergic conjunctivitis).
In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, trees typically begin to pollinate at the end of February, peak in mid- to late-April and continue to pollinate through late May and occasionally through early June. The first trees to pollinate in the Washington, DC metro area cedar, birch, maple, poplar, elm, and alder. Later in the Spring season, the principal tree that causes difficulties for people with tree pollen allergies is the oak tree. In addition to oak tree, however, other tress that pollinate during the same time as oak trees include hickory, walnut, and pine trees.
Tree pollen, as well as other pollens (e.g., grasses, weeds), pollinates by releasing its pollen into the air. In general, most non-flowering trees have pollen that is light in weight. When the pollen in released into the air, it is carried by the wind and the pollen grains land on other trees. It is this cross-pollination that allows trees to reproduce. Although it is good for the trees, it is not so good for allergy patients. If outdoors when tree pollination takes place, a tree-sensitive individual will breathe in the pollen-infested air which will cause that person to exhibit allergic rhinitis symptoms.
The symptoms of tree pollen allergy may include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip (which may cause a sore throat or cough), itchy throat, itchy nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, puffy eyes, sinus pressure and/or pain, snoring, chest tightness, wheezing, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Tree pollen as well as other environmental allergens (e.g., grasses, weeds, molds, dust mites, pets, cockroaches) may also exacerbate asthma in patients with this condition.
An interesting fact regarding flowers or flowering trees is that they generally do not cause hay fever symptoms because the pollen is too heavy, and as a result, the pollen is not wind-disbursed. If they are too heavy to be transported in the air to other flowering trees, then one generally does not become sensitized to the pollen because they are not breathing in this heavier pollen. It is thought that the flowers are an adaptation over millions of years in order to attract bees. By design, bees have taken over for cross-pollinating flowering trees by landing on the flowers and then flying to other flowering trees. When the bee lands on the flower, tree pollen gets stuck to their abdomen. When they fly to another flowering tree, the pollen on its abdomen rubs off on the flowers allowing cross-pollination of that species of tree.
The diagnosis of tree pollen allergy begins with a comprehensive history and physical examination. Allergy skin testing or blood testing (in select individuals) is usually performed in order to identify a tree allergy.
Once a diagnosis of tree pollen allergy is confirmed, avoidance of tree pollen and prophylactic measures should be tried, if at all possible. If one goes outside, take a shower, wash one’s hair, and change one’s clothing when returning home in order to lessen pollen exposure. It is wise to turn on the air conditioner and change air filters regularly (approximately once a month). In addition, close one’s windows and sunroof and re-circulate the air in the car in order to avoid outside air from entering the vehicle. At home, avoid mowing one’s lawn and yard work. If these tasks must be done, where a filtration mask to lessen exposure to tree pollen. Also avoid close contact with a pet that goes outside since they carry tree pollen on their coats. If they go outdoors, wash the per regularly. Check pollen counts every day and click Today’s Pollen Count on our website to see the daily pollen count. Stay inside whenever possible during the Spring, especially when the tree pollen count is high. If you must go outside, try to avoid exercising outdoors in the early mornings because pollen tends to be released more during that time frame. Avoid wearing contact lenses which may trap the tree pollen in one’s eyes. It is important to know that rain washes tree pollen from the air causing the pollen counts to be lower on wet cooler days.
The treatment of tree pollen allergy, other than trying to avoid exposure, usually begins with taking allergy medications. There are also a multitude of medications available that may help diminish allergy symptoms. Some of these medications may include antihistamines, decongestants, leukotriene inhibitors, nasal corticosteroids, nasal antihistamines, nasal mast cell stabilizers, nasal anticholinergics, ocular antihistamines, and/or ocular mast cell stabilizers. Allergy shots (i.e., allergy immunotherapy, allergy desensitization, allergy hyposensitization) are a very efficacious treatment modality in patients with all types of environmental allergies, including tree pollen allergies. They work in 80-85% of patients that take them. It is also helpful in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis as well as asthma.
The board certified allergy specialists at Black & Kletz Allergy have been treating individuals with tree pollen allergies for over 50 years. If you suffer from any of the symptoms above in the Spring, please call our office for an allergy consultation in order for us to determine if you have tree or other allergies that may cause any of the symptoms above. We have 3 offices in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area with office locations in Washington, DC, McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA), and Manassas, VA. We offer on-site parking at each location and the Washington, DC and McLean, VA offices are Metro accessible. There is a free shuttle that runs between the McLean, VA office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line. Black & Kletz Allergy specializes in treatment of both adult and pediatric patients. Alternatively, to schedule an appointment, you may click Request an Appointment and we will respond within 24 hours by the next business day. The allergy doctors at Black & Kletz Allergy pride themselves in providing superior allergy and asthma care in a specialized and caring environment.
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