Summer feels longer in Minnesota — but so does allergy season
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Warm fall weather may feel nice to some — especially ahead of Minnesota’s signature winter season — but for those who suffer from allergies, it prolongs their misery.
Pollen season is in full swing in Minnesota as the presence of ragweed pollen increases, a trend that started over 15 years ago.
Minnesotans are likely to experience longer pollen seasons as summer-like temperatures persist into October, said Dr. Joshua Dorn, a physician in allergen and immunology with Hennepin Healthcare.
“A longer season could both increase the amount of pollen that a plant produces and make the pollen season longer than it otherwise would be,” Dorn said.
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Weed pollen, including ragweed, is typically present from late July through September, when the first frost occurs. Dorn does not expect Minneapolis’ first frost until mid-October.
Ragweed is one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies in the U.S., according to the Minnesota Department of Health. They noted the ragweed season increased by 18-21 days from 1995-2015.
“For people suffering from allergies, it just, you know, it’s not like a life-threatening medical condition, but it really affects quality of life, so people really feel miserable,” Dorn said. “There are a lot of people I see who get used to, sort of, suffering from allergies and you really don’t have to do that.”
Over 15 percent of Minnesotans, roughly 750,000, are sensitive to ragweed, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A single ragweed plant can produce up to a billion pollen grains in one season.
The presence of ragweed varies depending on temperatures and conditions on a specific day, Dorn said. Plants release their pollen in certain conditions, so rain and wind can both play a role.
“Even with higher counts, there's individual patients who can have, sort of, a better year or worst year,” Dorn said. “But if people are really feeling bad and they know they are known to have issues this time of year, there's a few different strategies.”
For those suffering from a runny nose, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat, you are not alone.
One of the best strategies for reducing these symptoms is avoidance measures, according to Dorn. This includes keeping windows closed and using the air condition or showering and changing clothes immediately after being outside.
Dorn said he has not received a disproportionate number of phone calls for allergy symptoms this year, compared to previous years.
