Brace for an Allergy Season as El Nino Brings More Pollen
Thanks to weather phenomenon, El Nino, erratic storms fed barren plants of Sacramento making them lush green. However, as gorgeous as the verdant plains look, they also brought intense nose and throat irritation for the allergic people.
Allergy expert, Dr. Travis Miller said, as the rain increased, so did the biomass of grasses, flowering plants and weeds.
"Once the sun comes out, and spring temperatures hit the 50- to 70-degree range with a little bit of wind, the trees, grasses and flowers let go of their pollen and hope that it will spore," explains Dr. Miller. He also noted that his patients exhibited signs of allergic reactions during second week of Feb, lot sooner than its usual occurrence in March.
People who suffer from allergy related symptoms will have to brace themselves for a longer period of suffering due to El Nino weather event.
Sacramento, also known as the "city of trees," will be hit the most. According to the survey conducted by Quest Diagnostics, 36% residents of the city suffer from ragweed or mold allergies as compared to nation's 20%. Due to abundant greenery coupled with mild winters, it becomes a breeding ground for pollen.
People who suffer from seasonal allergies, doctors suggest numerous ways to relieve the symptoms such as reducing your time outdoors, especially on dry, breezy days. They should also consider taking allergy medication before being targeted by spring allergies.
El Nino season is considered to be the fiercest since "Millennium Drought" of 1998 that brought with it unique effects all across the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA are together conducting evaluation of land, sea and air to study the weather pattern that has affected the entire pacific region.
