For some people, these sensitivities are greatly aggravated around this time of year due to elevated amounts of pollen in the air. Currently, pollen is primarily a result of maple and cedar trees. These allergens give allergy sufferers symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness in the nose, throat, eyes and ears. According to allergist Kathy Lampl, allergies are no small problem. Allergic rhinitis, she says, affects 50 million Americans, including ten to 20 percent of all adults and ten to 42 percent of all children.
Allergic rhinitis is the fifth most common chronic condition in the United States.
Senior Henry Teage knows what a drag seasonal allergies are. They can be a pain. Unfortunately, living in the Washington, D.C. area can exacerbate an allergy problem. A damp atmosphere leading to good growing conditions does not help the situation either. Lampl says that tree pollen is a major concern in March and April, while grass pollen causes more problems in May and June.