What Allergens Can You Expect in Arizona?

Posted on by Goodyear Office

Walking outside in the spring is a bit of a mixed bag for allergy sufferers. On the one hand, you get to enjoy the blooming wildflowers and take walks on cactus-heavy trails, but on the other hand, you might experience a range of hay fever symptoms. Common symptoms include:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Red, watery or itchy eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Itchy nose, mouth or throat
  • Mucus in the throat
  • Excessive fatigue, especially if congestion makes it hard to breathe at night
  • Swelling or a bruised color under the eyes, known as allergic shiners

Let’s look at a few sources of Arizona hay fever and what you can do to manage your symptoms for a better spring.

Arizona Allergens

Woman having a snack at the top of her Arizona hike.

Tree, grass and weed pollen are the main sources of hay fever. A few specific examples you can find in and around Phoenix and Goodyear include:

  • Bermuda grass
  • Ragweed
  • Russian thistle
  • Mulberry tree
  • Ash tree
  • Mesquite tree
  • Cottonwood tree
  • Olive tree
  • Oak tree

We can identify your specific sensitivities through an allergy skin or blood test. Understanding which allergens you react to will help you avoid contact with them where possible.

Tips To Limit Allergen Exposure

Try the following to limit allergen exposure during hay fever season:

  • Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling or planting that might set off your allergies
  • Clean your house frequently
  • Take a shower upon returning home to remove sticky pollen
  • Put allergy screens on your windows or keep the windows closed during peak pollen hours (check The Weather Channel for pollen counts in your area)

Limiting exposure to pollen as much as possible during hay fever season will help keep your allergies under control. If avoidance alone doesn’t provide sufficient relief, a few treatments can help.

Treating Allergies

Allergy treatment will vary from person to person. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, you can usually control them with medication. A few medication options include:

  • Antihistamines
  • Decongestants
  • Corticosteroids
  • Mast cell inhibitors

If your allergies are severe—bad enough to impact your life—you may benefit from a long-term treatment called immunotherapy. With immunotherapy, we’ll administer increasing doses of the allergen you’re sensitive to in order to build your immune system’s tolerance to it.

Immunotherapy takes between three and five years[1], and you can choose either shots or drops under the tongue. Drops are only available for specific allergens, so your eligibility will depend on the results of your allergy test.

For more information on your allergy treatment options, contact us at our Goodyear Office today.

[1] American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (n.d.). Immunotherapy can provide lasting relief. https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/immunotherapy-can-provide-lasting-relief