‘Pollen Apocalypse’ Hits North Carolina: Here’s How To Survive

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina is currently under siege. As anyone in the state with itchy eyes or stuffy nose already knows too well, pollen season is upon us and this year, it’s bad. Terribly so.

Pollen counts from trees have spiked this week across the state, with tree pollen levels reaching a severity ranking of “very high” at 3268.3 grains per cubic meter of air on Tuesday in Raleigh, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Which trees are the main culprits? State officials say its pine, oak, mulberry, sycamore and birch.

The pollen level in the state capital is so high this week, it ranked No. 5 as Highest Pollen Hot Spots, according to The Weather Channel.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. They're described as an "overreaction of the immune system" to certain substances that typically don't harm people.

The Charlotte metro area has been ranked among the worst metros in the country for allergies. Earlier this year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked America's 100 largest metro areas based on things like pollen scores, medication usage and availability of certified allergists. And, they found, the outlook is getting worse in Charlotte. In the spring of 2018, the Queen City metro area was ranked 56th, but this year has moved up to 42nd.

RELATED: Here's How Bad Spring Allergies Are In Charlotte Metro

A photo taken by a photographer with a drone in Durham earlier this week illustrates the pain and suffering that everyone in this state with itchy eyes already knows too well. The image of the cloud of pollen is suspended above homes, a translucent yellow green fog of microbial angst hanging over what might otherwise be a bucolic residential setting.

“The pollen wasn’t just coating cars and patio chairs — it was hanging thick in the air,” CNN noted.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself from pollen this spring, according to AAFA:

• Limit outdoor activities
• Keep windows closed
• Use central air conditioning with HEPA air filtration
• Wear sunglasses when outdoors
• Wear a hat to cover your hair
• Take a shower and shampoo hair before going to bed
• Change and wash clothes after outdoor activities
• Dry laundry in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor line
• Limit contact with pets that spend time outdoors
• Wipe pets off with a towel before they enter your home
• Remove your shoes before entering your home
• Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week
• Use a nasal rinse to flush out inhaled pollen
• Use a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® air cleaner (portable or whole house) or HVAC air filter

  To all the young people suffering from allergies in this season, we see you, we're with you, we are you. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your stuffy nose and itchy eyes. #pollenpocalypse #allergyseason #Durham pic.twitter.com/9lp9CaCiCG
  — City of Durham Office on Youth (@youthspeakDURM) April 10, 2019