People choose to live in beautiful southern Nevada for a myriad of reasons. Some seek a lower cost of living, while others relocate for work or even a fulfilling retirement lifestyle. Many of them believe the common myth that their seasonal allergies will vanish like a desert mirage when they arrive. While they may experience a brief reprieve as their system adjusts, it turns out the Las Vegas area boasts a robust menu of airborne allergens that wreak havoc on its residents, both new and seasoned. The dry climate makes allergies even worse thanks to our bodies not secreting as much mucus to naturally fend off allergens.
Blooming flowers and comfortable temperatures make spring an entirely pleasant time to open the windows and enjoy the great outdoors before the oppressive heat of summer rolls in. Unfortunately, this also coincides with southern Nevada’s peak pollen season. Both native and non-native plant life release pollen that can wreak havoc on allergy sufferers. Warm, dry, and windy conditions are a spring allergy-sufferer’s enemy because that is when pollen really gets tossed around in the air. The trees that most affect the Las Vegas area include mulberry, European olive, ash, pine, oak, elm, and maple. Non-native fruitless mulberry trees prove especially problematic – so much so that they were banned in Clark County in 1991. They still exist in older neighborhoods but can no longer be planted because of their high pollen concentrations. The European olive tree was outlawed at the same time.
Thanks to triple-digit summer temperatures, seasonal allergies generally take a break until fall. As soon as the heat dies down a bit, weed pollens come out to play, putting a damper on outdoor activities in September and October. Ragweed is the worst offender. It can grow taller than a person and produces a ton of potent pollen. Sagebrush can also affect southern Nevada allergy sufferers in the fall due to the copious amount of lightweight pollen it releases into the air. In spite of our dry climate, mold thrives at this time as well and can cause seasonal allergy symptoms to flare up.
Living in the dynamic Las Vegas area does not doom you to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) forever! If you find yourself experiencing persistent allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and congestion around the same time(s) each year for weeks or even months at a time, you may be one of the many Nevadans battling seasonal allergies. One of Southern Nevada Allergy’s highly trained physicians will guide you through the process of identifying your allergy triggers. Based on your allergens and symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will address your needs. Medication can work wonders in some patients. Others choose immunotherapy (allergy drops or allergy shots), which builds up your body’s immunity to allergens over time. Come in to see us before your symptoms start for the season so we can help you win the allergy battle!