As summer becomes fall, many Americans begin to have symptoms of hay fever. Sneezing, stuffy, or runny nose, itchy eyes, nose, or throat, and trouble sleeping often mark the beginning of fall.These symptoms begin when ragweed plants release pollen into the air and continue until frost kills the plants.
Did you know... gram for gram ragweed pollen is more allergenic than other types of pollen. One study found ragweed pollen to be 2-5 times more allergenic than tree pollen, up to 2 times more allergenic than grass pollen, and up to 3 times more allergenic than other weed pollen. Ragweed plants usually grow in rural areas. Near the plants the pollen counts are the highest shortly after dawn. The amount of pollen peaks in urban areas between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. depending on the weather.
Ragweed seeds can remain dormant for up to 40 years before germinating. That means that this years ragweed crop might be due, in part, to ragweed seeds shed as far back as 1964.
Of those who are allergic to pollen producing plants, 75 percent are allergic to ragweed. People with ragweed allergy may also get symptoms when they eat cantaloupe and bananas.
