Grass in particular is likely to go through a longer and more intense pollination period this year after weeks of heavy rain spurred more growth than usual. San Francisco allergist Jeffrey Davidson said that in years past, when it's rained more than usual, he hasn't seen an increase in patient complaints.īut outside San Francisco, those allergic to grass and weed pollens are almost definitely facing an unusually tough season, allergists said. In San Francisco in particular, where grass and weed allergies aren't as much of a problem as they are in the rest of the Bay Area, allergy sufferers may be just fine this year. Not everyone is worried about the coming hay fever season. "Some people have said they're better off because the rain washed it out of the air. We've got the dust mite, we've got mold, and just in the last few days we're starting to see the grass," said Joann Blessing-Moore, a Palo Alto allergist who teaches at Stanford University School of Medicine. "Our seasonal factors are different this year. So the winter may have been a breeze for people who usually suffer tree and plant pollen allergies, but it was especially difficult for those with indoor allergies who didn't go outdoors for weeks on end. The rains may have washed away much of the pollen that would normally have caused allergies in March and April, but they actually exacerbated the allied problems of mold and dust mites. Hazel McDonald's concerns aside, people who suffer tree pollen allergies may be in luck: Allergists say the recent rain may have washed away pollens during the prime blooming period in late winter and early spring. Those who suffer from allergies every year may experience exaggerated symptoms in the coming weeks because of the elevated pollen levels, and people who don't usually suffer at all might have fuzzy heads and runny noses. Symptoms range from the annoying - sneezing and watery, itchy eyes - to the dangerous, including bad coughs and breathing problems that can cause asthmatic responses. In the Bay Area, the most common pollen allergies are trees, especially juniper and cypress, along with grass and weeds. Based on the amount of pollen in the air, about 727,000 people were suffering from allergies last week, or 5.6 percent more than the previous week, said Gerry Kress, chief executive of Surveillance Data. Last week, just a few days of sunshine sent pollen levels higher in the Bay Area and people were feeling allergy symptoms, according to Surveillance Data Inc., which runs. In previous weeks, with the rain washing away most of the pollen, the level has been in the 5-6 range. Any score above an 8 is considered high, meaning that the majority of people who suffer an allergy will feel symptoms. The pollen count for the Bay Area on Wednesday was 8.3 on a 12-point scale, according to, a Web site that tracks the amount of pollen in the air on any given day. Just today we're already seeing folks coming in and getting eye drops and nasal sprays." "As it gets gradually warmer for the rest of the week, we're going to see a lot of folks in here. "This is probably going to be one of the most horrific allergy seasons in history simply because we've got so much water, so many plants are so well hydrated, and now the bloom is starting," said Tom Male, a pharmacy consultant at Ace Pharmacy in San Francisco. "Everything had so much rain and now it's going to bloom and get us."īay Area allergy sufferers are bracing for what could be a nasty hay fever season this year, after weeks of rain provoked especially lush plant growth, which in turn may unleash thick bursts of sneeze-inducing pollen.Īllergy doctors and pharmacists say they're already seeing an increase in patients complaining of weed and grass allergies - which typically don't show up until summer or fall - and it's only going to get worse as more people head outdoors after being cooped up. Bottlebrush, those are another one that have big, poofy flowers." As soon as the winds pick up, the acacia will start blowing. "The junipers are sending out new stuff now. "I'm looking at page after page of trees that are going to be blooming," said McDonald, leafing through a botany book at Flowercraft Garden Center in San Francisco, where she is a manager.
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