Accuweather Mold Count (2024)

FAQs

Why are my allergies so bad? ›

Environmental factors play an important role in allergy symptoms. Increased pollution, air quality changes and outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores can create a perfect storm for heightened allergic responses. Seasonal variations. Allergy seasons ebb and flow throughout the year.

Oak, birch, and maple trees release pollen that can travel far and wide. This is significant because many people in Jersey City and the surrounding areas suffer from tree pollen allergies during this time.

The most common fall eye allergy trigger is ragweed. This plant generally starts releasing pollen in the last days of summer in August, lasting into the cooler months of September and October. About 75% of individuals who are allergic to spring trees, grasses and weeds are also allergic to ragweed.

Pollen is a powdery, granular substance in the flowers of trees, grasses and weeds that leads to fertilisation of plants. Pollen can be spread by insects or dispersed in the wind. Some people develop symptoms to pollen, such as hay fever (runny nose and itchy and watery eyes), and/or asthma.

That's because as the climate has warmed, there are fewer days with hard freezes. That gives pollen producers, grasses and weeds a longer period of time to thrive (and make your eyes water). The 2024 season has kicked off especially early, experts say.

This means allergies and immune system function are inherently linked. Allergic reactions cause inflammation throughout your body. This is part of your immune system's natural defense mechanism, but if left untreated, chronic inflammation can contribute to disease and poor immune system health.

In New Jersey, seasonal allergies can be caused by various allergens such as grass, weed, and tree pollen, as well as indoor allergens like dust mites, co*ckroaches, pet dander, and mold. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion.

New Jersey's allergy season isn't unique by any means. As with most U.S. states on the East Coast, winters can get pretty cold, which provides some relief from outdoor allergies. Typically, spring allergies will start in mid to late February, and allergy season will end in late fall, after the first hard freeze.

How to tell between a cold and allergies? ›

But there are differences. For example, people with seasonal allergies almost never have a sore throat or a cough. Viral infections, on the other hand, often do cause this symptom. And people with seasonal allergies don't usually have a fever, but those with a cold often do.

In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Tree pollination begins earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall.

Water can be an effective tool to help you manage allergy symptoms and improve a whole host of other bodily functions, and even your mood. That's not to say that drinking lots of water can cure seasonal allergies — always get help from a medical professional for serious allergies.

By running homemade saltwater or a pre-made saline solution through your nasal passages, sinus rinsing physically flushes out those allergens, reducing the load on your system. You should not use plain water because it has a different pH than your body and will feel irritating.

Overview. If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.

Perennial allergies are often a reaction to house dust. House dust may contain mold and fungal spores, fibers of fabric, animal dander, dust mite droppings, and bits of insects. Substances in and on co*ckroaches are often the cause of allergic symptoms.

Antihistamines can help relieve sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes. Examples of oral antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy), fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy) and loratadine (Claritin, Alavert). Corticosteroid nasal sprays.

Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system. The most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, fish, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster and tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews).

Many people develop new allergies over time or have worsening allergies because of environment changes, age, and stress. If you feel like your allergy medication isn't working, talk to your healthcare professional about new allergy testing. And use an allergy tracker to help avoid triggers.