New Hampshire Doctors See 20% to 25% Pollen Rise as Tree and Grass Seasons Overlap
Updated
Updated · New Hampshire Public Radio · Jun 16
New Hampshire Doctors See 20% to 25% Pollen Rise as Tree and Grass Seasons Overlap
1 articles · Updated · New Hampshire Public Radio · Jun 16
Summary
New Hampshire doctors say more patients are reporting worse allergy symptoms this year even though current summer pollen counts are roughly in line with last year.
Tree pollen remains the main trigger, and grass pollen is now starting to rise, creating an overlap that allergists say can compound symptoms for some people.
Dartmouth Hitchcock, one of about 60 National Allergy Bureau monitoring stations, says overall pollen counts have climbed about 20% to 25% over the past two decades.
Doctors also say climate change is lengthening allergy season through a longer growing season, helping explain why symptoms can feel more intense over time.
For relief, allergists recommend steroid or antihistamine nasal sprays, non-drowsy drugs such as Zyrtec and Allegra, saline rinses, and longer-term immunotherapy rather than Afrin.