Is Allergy Season Worse This Year In Illinois?

As warmer temperatures roll in, Illinoisans know sneezing and itchy eyes are on the horizon, and many are saying this allergy season feels like the worst yet.

But is there truth in that feeling?

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According to Dr. Rachna Shah with the Illinois Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Professionals, this allergy season is indeed proving to be particularly severe for a couple of reasons.

Recent fluctuations in the weather have drawn out the season in some ways, Dr. Shah said. A significant winter, inconsistent temperatures and thunderstorms worked together to bring the tree season early.

Typically, tree season was March until early May, according to Dr. Shah, but it began around late February this year.

"As the temperature has gotten a little more steady, the tree pollen has all come out, kind of with a vengeance," Dr. Shah said. "Now we add on grass season, which is typically May until the end of June. With both of those coming together, it becomes a really difficult season."

Dr. Shah says fundamental changes in the climate also play a role in bringing a bad allergy season. Throughout the country, allergy seasons have been getting longer and longer.

Studies have looked into the effect of climate change on how much pollen certain types of plants produce. Birch trees and ragweed in particular have responded to an increase in carbon dioxide levels by producing more pollen, Dr. Shah said.

"There are some studies looking at even how allergenic those proteins are. They're actually more allergenic than they used to be, just given what our climate is and pollution and other things like that," Dr. Shah said.

This year, tree pollen is expected to be about average in northern Illinois, but high downstate throughout May, according to Accuweather. Grass pollen is expected to spike over the summer throughout the whole state, forecasters said.

A second allergy season will hit from August until the end of September, according to Dr. Shah. This allergy season is when people tend to feel the effects of weed pollen.

Accuweather predicts it to be an average allergy season for weed pollen in Illinois.

Though there isn't a holy grail solution to dealing with seasonal allergies, there are some tips that Dr. Shah shares for those struggling with the worst of it. Simple things like closing your windows, rinsing off and changing your clothes after being outside and wearing a hat to keep pollen out of your hair can make the season more bearable, she said.

Through Loyola Medicine, ASAP shares a daily pollen count every weekday. To view an up-to-date pollen count, visit the allergy count webpage.