Allergy seasons merge on Long Island causing 'double whammy'

Long Island allergy sufferers: the spring was as bad as you thought it was. Now get ready for summer.

This weekend, both tree and grass pollen will be high as the seasons start to transition with longer, warmer days.

The spring was particularly difficult because it did not ramp up gradually, said Erin McGintee, an allergist and immunologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Southampton. The cold winter slowed down the early blooming trees while the late blooming trees started earlier as soon as the weather warmed up.

"With particularly cold winters and an early spring, everything sort of pops at once, so to speak," she said. "When everything's out all at once, for the people who suffer from tree pollen allergy, it can be really rough. And then, on top of that, grass starts in May. So you’re getting a double whammy."

That means more people struggling with runny noses, red, watery eyes and sneezing.

Tree season, which can start in February, usually runs through April and into May. Grass pollen kicks up in May and goes through June followed by the first weed pollen days in August.

In March, Newsday spoke with Long Island allergy experts who predicted an "intense tree pollen season" based on the amount of snow and rain over the winter.

In general, grass pollen season is lasting longer and is more intense, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Some of the most common varieties of grass that cause allergies are Bermuda, fescue, Kentucky blue, rye and sweet vernal

Climate change plus increasing carbon dioxide in the air is leading to longer growing seasons and higher amounts of grass pollen, the organization said.

"There hasn’t been much rain, so there is nothing to take the pollen down a notch," McGintee said. "The people who have grass pollen allergies will be miserable for the next two months."

Dr. Susan Schuval, chief of the division of pediatric allergy/immunology at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, said it seemed like more people, especially young children, were suffering with allergy symptoms this year.

"The symptoms really didn’t get better with the usual allergy medication," she said, pointing out that tree pollen should be dissipating over the next few months.

Fortunately, there is a lot of effective over-the-counter allergy medication as well as prescription medication that can be switched around to determine what works best for an individual, she said

She said people should see an expert to find out what they are allergic to and then start medications and sprays ahead of the season before the symptoms start.

Those with asthma need to be especially careful because the pollen can aggravate the condition.

"Listen to the pollen counts every day," Schuval advised. "They are usually highest in the mornings so if you have to do anything outside, better to do it later in the day."

Additionally, people with allergies should close their windows and use air conditioners to keep the pollen out of their homes. When coming in from outside, take a shower to wash pollen off your body and out of your hair, she said.

"Pets can also carry pollen into the house," she said. "So if you sleep with your dog, know you are being exposed to pollen as well." 

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.