‘Pollen season is here’: Spring allergies arrive early in some parts of Canada
Global News
With a milder winter wrapping up across Canada, many seasonal allergy sufferers may find themselves confronted with an unexpected consequence: an early start to allergy season.
With a milder winter wrapping up across Canada, many seasonal allergy sufferers may find themselves confronted with an unexpected consequence: an early start to the spring allergy season.
Although allergy season has arrived earlier than usual in certain parts of the country this year, experts say that occasional bursts of cold weather in March could potentially delay the onset of pollen, offering a temporary respite for some.
“Pollen season is here,” Daniel Coates, director of Aerobiology Research Laboratories, told Global News. “It started earlier this year compared to the same time last year, depending on where you live. But if we do get a cold flux, then those pollen levels will drop for a little while until it warms up again.”
The progression of allergy seasons typically follows a defined pattern: tree pollen dominates in spring, grass takes centre stage during summer, and ragweed prevails in the fall. Because of the unusually warm winter across many parts of Canada, this means some trees may start to bloom and release pollen into the air ahead of schedule, Coates said.
The major tree pollen culprits in Canada are birch, alder, oak, maple and cedar, Coates said. These trees produce large amounts of pollen that are dispersed into the air during their blooming seasons, triggering allergic reactions in susceptible people.
If you live in regions where these trees are abundant, Coates advised, “consider stocking up on allergy medication sooner rather than later.”
About one-quarter of Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI).
Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, an itchy nose and throat, nasal congestion, a runny nose, coughing and watery, itchy, and reddened eyes.
