Bad news for allergy sufferers who live in Alaska: the Anchorage Daily News reports that the state currently has more pollen in the air than almost anywhere else on the entire planet. Counters recorded 2,862 pollen grains per cubic meter of air on Friday, May 9. Compare that to New York City's pollen counts the same day, which The Weather Channel considered "very high" at only 1,572 grains per cubic meter.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, 95 percent of Anchorage's current pollen problems come from birch. The rest is from aspen, spruce and alder. A National Weather Service spokesman attributed the unusually high counts to the region's warm, dry spring, which triggered an early blooming season for trees. All that pollen causes severe discomfort and irritation for allergy sufferers, but for some people it can also trigger asthma and allergy attacks.
"There's definitely an increase in hospitalization and emergency-room visits," Melinda Rathkopf, an allergist with the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska, told the Daily News.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you should schedule a consultation with a physician to determine your allergy triggers and discuss possible treatments, such as over-the-counter antihistamines. Patients with severe symptoms may want to consider allergy shots or new under-the-tongue prescription medications. If you've seen an allergist before but your symptoms have worsened, make another appointment to reassess your treatment plan.
Allergy control products can also dramatically help you manage your symptoms. Consider investing in an allergen air purifier, allergy mattress protector and air humidifier. These products minimize the presence of allergens in your home, proactively reducing irritation. Visit the Allergy Be Gone website to learn more.
