'Intense' allergy season ahead due to Long Island's wet winter, doctors say

The extreme cold temperatures and snow that blanketed Long Island this winter aren’t going to make the spring allergy season any shorter or easier to deal with, experts said.

"I think it’s going to be an intense tree pollen season, just based on the amount of winter precipitation we had," said Dr. Stephanie Mawhirt, an allergist at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care in Garden City.

Mawhirt said all the snow and rain actually make optimal conditions for blooming when the weather starts to warm up.

More than 106 million people in the United States have either allergies or asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Tree pollen allergy season generally starts in March but can start in late February if the weather is warm enough.

Dr. Erin McGintee, an allergist-immunologist based in Southampton, said she noticed high tree pollen counts early last week when the temperatures soared into the high 60s.

"Even on March 14, some of the early blooming trees were already at medium pollen level," she said. "Unless it’s a rainy day, you are going to see pollen counts in the medium level for the next few weeks and then in April, it’s probably really going to pop."

That means itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing for many Long Islanders. Doctors advise starting daily medication now, before symptoms start or while they are relatively minor.

"It’s always better to try and prevent these immune system responses and allergic reactions from starting," said Dr. Neal Shipley, medical director of Northwell Health-Go Health Urgent Care. "It's much harder to suppress them once they're in motion."

For many allergy sufferers, that means starting with a steroid nasal spray (known as intranasal corticosteroids) or a nasal spray with antihistamine, both over-the-counter medicines. The nasal spray with steroid can help with congestion, postnasal drip and mucus production, said Mawhirt, while the nasal antihistamine can also help with itchiness and sneezing.

There is overlap in the medications and some people may use both, but it is always advised to check with a doctor before using, even though these are sold without a prescription.

"A lot of people get seasonal asthma and that’s a whole other beast," McGintee said. "If they are not preemptively going on a maintenance inhaler to control that inflammation, they can get an asthma flare that could land them in the hospital."

Trees that cause the most allergy symptoms, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, include oak, walnut, elm, juniper and hickory.

Mawhirt said all patients can take steps to avoid pollen by keeping track of pollen counts every day and monitoring air quality. They can also keep windows closed and run air conditioners, and consider an indoor air filter.

"Don’t go into bed with the clothes you were wearing outside," she said. "And try to shower before bed so you don't bring the pollen that's on your skin and in your hair into the bed."

Experts have said allergy seasons, in general, have started earlier and lasted longer due to factors like climate change. Air pollution is also a factor, especially in more densely populated western Long Island, Mawhirt said.

Shipley said the mix of allergies and air pollution can be especially problematic for people with respiratory conditions.

"Longer seasons, more pollen, stronger allergens and more severe symptoms lead to increased use of the health care system and a decreased quality of life," he said. "It’s not a great combination."

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.