Sniffling and Sneezing? Avoid These Five Massachusetts Allergens

Allergy symptoms are sometimes mistaken for those of the common cold, such as a runny nose, chest congestion, and cough. However, allergen exposure is differentiated by itching eyes or an itchy throat. People who are affected by seasonal allergies might not know exactly what substances trigger their symptoms—they just know that at certain times of the year, the sneezing and itching start. In this area, the chances are likely that one of these top allergens in Massachusetts caused the symptoms.

Grasses  

Believe it or not, common grasses are one of the most prevalent allergens in the state and beyond. Grass species are wind-pollinated and produce large amounts of pollen, accounting for their severe contribution to seasonal allergies. The pollination season for grass ranges from spring to fall.

Plantain

Not to be confused with the banana-like plantain, this weed is a significant pollen creator throughout the East Coast, causing moderate allergy problems in the spring and summer months. Plantain, or Plantago Major, is an annual that grows to about a foot tall, producing small greenish-brown flowers at the center and oval-shaped leaves at the base.

Dock/Rumex

This species of weed creates pollen that spreads far and wide with the wind, creating problems for seasonal allergy sufferers that affect both the skin and respiratory system. Dock/Rumex can be either an annual or perennial and produces small, dense yellow and brown flowers.

Ragweed

One of the primary contributors to fall allergies, ragweed generates up to a billion pollen grains each season from a single plant—and each grain can travel up to 400 miles. While there are many species of ragweed, they typically have small, yellow or white flowers and lacy, lance-shaped leaves.

Annual Wormwood

With a pollen season spanning from summer to fall, all species of wormwood create havoc for allergy sufferers thanks to producing copious amounts of wind-spread pollen. Common wormwood is a woody shrub that produces small yellow-white flowers. Other species common in Massachusetts include dragon wormwood, pacific wormwood, and southern wormwood.

Understanding allergy triggers and avoiding these substances can prevent uncomfortable symptoms from occurring. Services like indoor air quality testing and air conditioner maintenance performed by a qualified provider can also mitigate the effects of these allergens.