When trees begin to bloom, local allergists know it’s only a matter of time before their offices will fill up with patients.
“We’re busy throughout the year, but as tree pollen increases we start to see more calls,” said Dr. Todd Levin, an allergist at the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic.
Dr. Levin said when trees start blooming in February, people begin to experience symptoms of pollen allergies, with a usual peak in late March to early April. But this year, the abundance of rain and cold weather have “delayed the tree pollen,” he said.
That’s because most tree species – especially the usual allergy culprits such as oak, hickory, dogwood, pine and maple trees – are wind pollinated, said Joey Shaw, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Mr. Shaw said rain doesn’t directly affect pollination, but humidity levels caused by rain can.
“Pollen grains travel long distances,” he said. “If we get a rain, that keeps the humidity up and dampens the pollen grains, and they’re not going to be airborne as long.”