Allergy Alerts for Pollen Counts

For individuals with allergies and asthma, allergy alerts could literally be a lifesaver. Provided by various organizations, allergy alerts inform consumers about the possibility of coming into contact with substances known to cause allergic reactions in certain individuals. Consequently, most allergy alerts are based on high pollen counts.

Allergy alerts for pollen are available online and are also mentioned in newspapers and TV newscasts. Most allergy alert pollen forecasts are compiled through pollen counting stations which take pollen samples from the air at thousands of locations across the country. Usually allergy alerts will be divided into levels such as a low, medium, or high pollen count. The higher the pollen count, the more likely it is that the allergy patient will be exposed to seasonal allergy symptoms during the period of the forecast.

Allergy alerts for pollen can give you valuable data about which parts of the country may be good for you to reside in or visit if you want to avoid the pollen you are allergic to. For example, areas with mountains may have low pollen counts for weed pollen, yet have high allergy alerts for tree pollen. High population areas such as suburbs can show elevated allergy alerts for grass pollen. Pacific northwestern states often have lower incidence of ragweed allergy but have normal to high levels of other types of pollen. Unfortunately, even if you relocate to an area to avoid allergy alerts for a certain type of pollen, there is a chance you may become allergic to another type of pollen in your new home.

All in all, allergy alerts for pollen counts can assist you in knowing what to plan for in the next 48 to 72 hours. If you experience extreme allergic reactions to pollen, it is advisable to stay inside and take other protective measures when allergy alerts show high levels of pollen in your area.