Iowa Pollen Levels (2024)

FAQs

What allergies are bad in Iowa right now? ›

In Iowa, you'll want to keep an eye on pollen counts in April, May, June, and September. These months are when seasonal allergies are typically at their peak. During these months, try limiting your time outdoors or going out in the evening when pollen counts tend to be lower in Iowa.

Spring (March, April and May)

Tree pollen, grass pollen and weed pollen are all kicking around in spring and summer – from March through to May. Tree pollen and grass pollen have peaks, so spring allergies and their symptoms could be more severe. Your spring hay fever symptoms might include painful sinuses and a cough.

Let's see why your allergies may be acting up more than usual. Environmental triggers. Environmental factors play an important role in allergy symptoms. Increased pollution, air quality changes and outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores can create a perfect storm for heightened allergic responses.

Due to increased humidity and early tree pollination, symptoms may be more intense this year for Iowans. “What you have is trees start pollinating earlier, because it's warmer, and that's the primary culprit in the spring," said Kenneth Mendez, CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Des Moines is ranked eighth among the most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies. Nearly 81 million people in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The entire state has "high" allergy levels and pollen count, according to Pollen.com.

On an average day, pollen counts rise during the morning, peak about midday, and then gradually fall. So the lowest pollen counts are usually before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening.

In spring, it's tree allergy season for Iowa residents. Tree allergies in Iowa usually are a response to maple, hickory, ash, oak, willow, mulberry, and walnut trees. Tree allergy season starts around late February or early March and ends in May or June.

Rising temperatures are also allowing plants to bloom earlier and longer, prolonging pollen seasons. Increased rainfall means plants release more pollen when they bloom, and higher numbers of thunderstorms cause pollen grains to burst, making them more irritating and worsening symptoms.

Try an over-the-counter remedy

They include: Oral antihistamines. Antihistamines can help relieve sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes. Examples of oral antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy), fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy) and loratadine (Claritin, Alavert).

How to neutralize pollen? ›

Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system in your house to clear the air of allergies. Change filters on your heating/air conditioning system often, especially during peak pollen season. Avoid outdoor tasks — especially gardening and lawn mowing — that expose you to high pollen concentrations.

New research has shown that masks aren't just a helpful way to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other infections. They can also help reduce allergies by blocking allergen particles. You might see benefits from wearing masks if you have pollen, mold, dust, pet, and other allergies.

Older adults tend to have more chronic conditions and experience a decline in the functioning of several organs, both of which can heighten an allergic response. Aging can potentially worsen any allergy, including hypersensitivities to food, medications, insect bites, and pollen.

In some cases, over the counter allergy meds stop working because your body has built up a resistance to your usual remedy. However, it is far more common for other changes in your life or your body to be the culprit behind the change and your OTC allergy relief not giving you the results you are used to.

Fall. Fall is weed allergy season in Iowa. Weed allergens to watch out for include lamb's quarters, ragweed, wormwood, and sagebrush. Weed allergies start at the end of summer and end after the first hard frost.

But there are differences. For example, people with seasonal allergies almost never have a sore throat or a cough. Viral infections, on the other hand, often do cause this symptom. And people with seasonal allergies don't usually have a fever, but those with a cold often do.