Pollen & Allergies: Why You're Suddenly Sneezing More

Does it seem as though your allergies are worse this year, with more sneezing, watery eyes and difficulty breathing than usual? You’re not imagining things — pollen has choked most of the U.S. in an unusually intense spring allergy season this year, which is a miserable reality for the nearly one in three adults and one in four children in the U.S. living with at least one allergy.

In some parts of the U.S. — the tree-lined city of Atlanta, for example — the amount of tree pollen in the air hit record levels.

Atlanta has broken its pollen count record, with 14,801 grains per cubic meter spewing from pine, oak, and birch trees. Houston also reported its highest pollen counts since 2013, when records began.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), 2025 will be a brutal year for seasonal allergies across the country with southern cities being hit the hardest.

“In the springtime, the first pollen allergens are from trees, and that is starting 20 days earlier than it did 30 years ago,” Kenneth Mendez, CEO of AAFA said.

“We hear all the time, ‘I’ve never had allergies before and now I suddenly feel like I have allergies,’ or ‘I feel like my allergies are getting a lot worse,’ and that’s because the allergic load is that much higher because of climate change,” Mendez added.

Why are my allergies so bad all of a sudden?

There are several reasons why your allergies might suddenly seem worse:

New Allergies Developing: It’s possible to develop new allergies at any point in your life. You might have become sensitized to a pollen you weren’t previously allergic to.
Increased Pollen Levels: Pollen counts can vary significantly from year to year due to weather conditions (e.g., a wet spring followed by a warm, dry period can lead to high pollen).
Longer Allergy Seasons: Climate change is contributing to longer and more intense pollen seasons in some areas.
Change in Location: Moving to a new geographic area can expose you to different types and concentrations of pollen that you haven’t encountered before.
Increased Exposure: Changes in your lifestyle, such as spending more time outdoors during high pollen times, can increase your exposure.
Irritants: Exposure to irritants like air pollution, smoke, or strong odors can worsen allergy symptoms, even if they are not the primary cause.
Indoor Allergens: You might be reacting to an increase in indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander, or mold, which can exacerbate seasonal allergy symptoms.
Cross-Reactivity: If you’ve developed a new food allergy related to pollen (oral allergy syndrome), your pollen symptoms might seem worse.
Underlying Conditions: Sometimes, other respiratory issues or infections can be mistaken for or worsen allergy symptoms.

For many people, pollen can be a more serious problem and can lead to dangerous complications or exacerbate other health issues. In fact, one study found that tree pollen allergies lead to 25,000 to 50,000 emergency room visits per year, two-thirds from people under the age of 18.

What month is pollen the highest?

The month, when pollen is highest, can vary depending on the specific types of pollen you are allergic to and your geographic location. However, April and May are often peak months for overall pollen counts in many regions, as this is when many trees and grasses release significant amounts of pollen.

Early Spring (January – March): Tree pollen (cedar, elm, maple, oak, birch, pine). Mulberry pollen peaks in March.
Spring (April – June): Tree pollen continues (pine, willow), and grass pollen starts to rise, peaking in May and June.
Summer (July – August): Grass pollen remains, and weed pollen (like ragweed) starts to increase.
Fall (September – October): Weed pollen (ragweed) often peaks in September and can last until the first frost.

Pollen forecasts for your local area can provide more specific information.

Why does pollen cause allergies?

Of all the things that cause allergic reactions, pollen is the most widespread. Why? Mainly because it’s so hard to avoid. Many trees and grasses use a much more primitive form of sexual reproduction: they literally cast their pollen to the winds so it will drift onto the plants’ female sex organs. Pollen from such trees and grasses is tiny, light, and dry — perfect for floating on the wind, and, unfortunately, perfect for getting inhaled into your nose or stuck in your eye. Once pollen sticks to your nose or eye, it releases the protein inside it. It’s this protein that triggers allergic reactions.

There are two steps to this process: First, a person has to be sensitized to a particular pollen. The pollen protein is recognized by the immune system as a foreign invader. The second step occurs only in people already sensitized to a specific pollen protein. When the protein hits the nose or eye, a flood of antibodies travel to the nose, where it sits until triggered by pollen protein, unleashing a flood of histamine and other factors that cause the immune responses we know as allergy.

What are the symptoms of being allergic to pollen?

Pollen allergy, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, can cause a range of symptoms, including:

Nasal Symptoms:

Sneezing
Runny nose (usually with thin, watery discharge)
Stuffy nose/nasal congestion
Postnasal drip
Itchy nose

Eye Symptoms:

Watery eyes
Itchy eyes
Red or swollen eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
Throat and Mouth Symptoms:
Itchy throat
Itchy roof of the mouth

Other Symptoms:

Coughing
Fatigue or tiredness
Headaches
Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)
Wheezing (especially in people with asthma)
Aggravated asthma symptoms

How do allergy drugs work?

The most common kind of allergy drugs are antihistamines. Histamine is a chemical messenger that triggers allergy attacks by flipping switches on cells called histamine receptors. Antihistamines block these receptors. But they can’t block every histamine receptor on every cell. The problem is they don’t go to every cell. And the blockade is only short term — it only works for a certain half-life.”

Intranasal antihistamines work a little better. They, too, block histamine receptors. But they also stabilize the membranes on mast cells, preventing the release of allergy-promoting factors and reducing swelling.

A third kind of allergy drug is a corticosteroid nasal spray. This drug has a more global effect on mast cells, suppressing their activity. They block the release not only of histamine but of other allergy-promoting factors.

What is the best solution for pollen allergies?

There isn’t one single “best” solution, as the most effective approach often involves a combination of strategies tailored to your individual needs and the severity of your allergies. However, common and effective solutions include:

Reducing Exposure:

Staying indoors on dry, windy days, especially in the morning when pollen counts are highest. The best time to go outside is after rain.
Keeping windows and doors closed at home and in the car, using air conditioning with HEPA filters.
Avoiding activities like mowing the lawn or gardening that stir up pollen.
Showering and changing clothes after being outside.
Using a HEPA air purifier indoors.

Medications:

Antihistamines: Oral medications (like cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine) or nasal sprays (like azelastine) help relieve itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.
Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays: (like fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone) reduce nasal inflammation and congestion and are often considered the most effective for persistent symptoms.
Decongestants: Oral (like pseudoephedrine) or nasal sprays (use with caution for short periods) can help with nasal stuffiness.
Cromolyn Sodium Nasal Spray: Can prevent allergy symptoms by blocking the release of immune system agents. Works best if used before exposure.
Leukotriene Inhibitors: Prescription medications like montelukast can block chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.
Nasal Rinse (Saline Irrigation): Rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution helps to flush out pollen and mucus, relieving congestion.
Allergy Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots or Sublingual Tablets): This involves regular exposure to small amounts of pollen over time to desensitize your immune system and reduce your reaction to the allergen. This is a longer-term treatment option.
It’s best to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.