Your pollen count - your hay fever early warning system
Avoiding pollen is one of the big challenges for people with pollen allergy – in your city or anywhere else. It’s invisible. Clouds of the pesky stuff can be all around and the first you know about it is when you start sneezing and get itchy watery eyes. Pollen can affect your health immediately after exposure. So, the pollen count, pollen forecast and pollen calendar provide vital information. They’re your pollen allergy early warning system.
How the pollen count can help
Check the pollen count every day and be prepared before you go outside. During pollen season you really want to know what’s in the air. The pollen count can show you when and where pollen levels are expected to be high. Knowing the pollen count in your city helps you predict when your hay fever is likely to strike. And then you can better plan your activities.
What affects the pollen count?
The season, first of all. Pollen is a fine, powdery yellow substance. Plants can release masses of the tiny grains into the air at any one time as part of their reproductive process. Pollen in your city is typically released from early spring, through the summer and even into the fall. Weather affects the pollen count too. Dry and windy weather provides ideal conditions for pollen to be carried as the grains are so small and light. And the right amount of rain makes for an abundant pollen season.
Why is the pollen count relevant to allergy?
Pollen allergy is when your immune system overreacts to pollen; it's also known as seasonal allergies or hay fever. If you have pollen allergy, you may have an allergic reaction when the pollen count is high in your city. Typically you are more likely to experience hay fever symptoms during late spring and early summer – depending on the type of pollen you’re reacting to of course.
Pollen allergies are increasing, especially in urban areas. Closely monitoring the daily pollen count can help you take proactive action to manage your allergy health and the allergy health of your family.
Ragweed pollen allergy
Of all the plants covered by the pollen count ragweed is one of the worst culprits for allergies. This is because the grains of ragweed pollen are small enough to reach the lower parts of the airways in your lungs. And it only takes 10 grains of ragweed pollen in a cubic meter of air to trigger an allergic reaction. Ragweed has been a health problem for decades. It's native to North America where there are 40 species. 3 The spread of ragweed across the world is being helped by global warming and changes in agriculture and travel.
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4 tips to try when the pollen count is high
Avoiding Your Trigger Pollen Is Definitely Challenging, But There Are A Few Things You Can Try To Reduce Your Contact With It When You're Outdoors:
- Try to plan indoor activities if you can.
- If you take allergy meds, it might be a good idea to take them before you head outside. But always follow your healthcare provider’s guidance.
- If you do have to leave home on a day with a high pollen count in your city protect your eyes from pollen with sunglasses; preferably the wrap-around kind.
- Wear a face mask or a more discrete nasal filter to stop the tiny grains invading and irritating your airways.
5 tips to help keep the pollen levels low in your home
Reducing The Amount Of Pollen That Gets Into Your Home Can Help Lessen Those Annoying Symptoms. Here Are 5 Indoor Tips For You To Try:
- Keep windows and doors closed whenever possible.
- Only air your rooms when the pollen count is low.
- Use your air filter regularly if you have one.
- Wash your hair before going to bed and leave your clothes outside your bedroom.
- Don't dry laundry outside. Use a tumble dryer or hang it up indoors instead.
The pollen count today
We’ve partnered with BreezoMeter for our pollen forecast right here and in our allergy app. BreezoMeter is transforming how pollen is reported by using technology and advanced data analytics to provide continuous location-based, real-time air quality and accurate pollen data.
Most major cities that track pollen use pollen counting stations – a method that relies on a number of highly trained individuals. Using a volumetric air pump, airborne articles are caught on sticky films over a 24-hour period. A lab technician will then make slides of the caught particles. And a certified pollen identification specialist then counts a subset of pollen on each slide using a microscope.
Standard pollen counts are often carried out only on weekdays, or once a week and are generalized over a large area. It can be challenging for standard pollen counts to factor in changing local conditions and weather conditions. But BreezoMeter does.
What are the benefits of BreezoMeter’s high-tech pollen count?
The big data approach to pollen forecasting uses governmental sensors, satellites, local weather, transportation dynamics and other sources. It means that people with pollen allergy can now enjoy outdoor activities when they know the pollen count in their city is low.
BreezoMeter organizes different pollen data sources to create standardization in the measurement of pollen emissions and reporting. The technology covers more than 5.5 billion people worldwide in more than 80 countries.
Your personalized allergy app - klarify
How you experience your allergies depends so much on what your trigger is, where you live and the weather. Everyone has a personal pollen allergy season. With the data analytics of BreezoMeter behind it, the klarify app offers you detailed pollen forecasts and current pollen counts for specific trees, grasses and weeds. As well as accurate air quality information and weather data.
Use the app to log how your hay fever is making you feel each day and klarify will give you personalized allergy insights tailored just for you. You'll get a daily alert which shows when the pollen count is high, moderate or low. All this information is available at your fingertips wherever you are.
Discover how to take better care of your allergies. With hay fever, information really is power.
The klarify app is free with no ads. Download it and keep on top of your allergies today, tomorrow and every day.
*Pollen data not currently available for Alaska or Hawaii
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