Common allergens in Colorado and what to know for allergy season

DENVER (KDVR) — Spring has sprung in Colorado, and so has allergy season.

Many things can cause seasonal allergies in Colorado, and they vary by season and region of the state. In some cases, allergy symptoms can lead to further complications.

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“Uncontrolled allergy symptoms can really wreak havoc on your respiratory system,” Andi Hudler, a pulmonary health physician at Denver Health told FOX31.

Here are some things to know ahead of allergy season in Colorado.

What are the common allergens in Colorado?

“Whether you live in the plains of Colorado versus the mountains, you are going to experience different allergens,” Hudler said.

Cottonwood and cedar trees tend to be some of the more prominent culprits in the Denver metro area, but Hudler added that people can experience allergies from many things.

In the mountains, common allergens often include evergreen, juniper and aspen trees. For the plains, the more common allergens include grasses and weeds.

When do allergens pop up in Colorado?

Hudler said allergy season runs long in Colorado, typically starting in late February or March and lasting through the summer and fall until the first freeze in winter.

The things that cause allergies can vary by season. Hudler said trees tend to cause allergies in the spring, then grasses pollinate and are a more prominent allergen in the Summer. Weed pollen and mold tend to cause more allergies in the fall.

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What symptoms do Colorado’s allergens cause?

Most people experience allergy symptoms that are more annoying than they are problematic, including runny nose, eye and nose itching, nasal drip, fatigue, congestion and sinus headaches.

Luckily, Hudler said, seasonal allergies do not often cause worrisome problems for most people.

Symptoms may be more prominent at high elevations

Hudler said the high elevation in Colorado won’t have a big effect on allergies other than the fact that it determines what allergens grow here.

However, because of the lower oxygen pressure at high elevations, Hudler said people can develop allergy symptoms sooner and some symptoms may be more prominent than they would be at sea level.

The elevation can have more impact on people who experience asthma with their allergies, so Hudler recommends seeing a doctor urgently if you experience any respiratory distress, especially if an inhaler does not help.

When should allergies become concerning?

“Things that would be more concerning are when you start to have what we call comorbidities or co-conditions with your seasonal allergies,” Hudler said.

There are two things that Hudler said are worth seeing a doctor for when it comes to allergies.

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Allergic conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the eyes, can make it easier to get a secondary bacterial infection and may be worth seeing a doctor.

Asthma is the other concern. Hudler said up to 40% of people who experience seasonal allergies will also have asthma. This is where it gets especially important to control allergy symptoms.

“We really want to take it very, very seriously with controlling your allergies if that is a trigger for your asthma because if you’re not controlling those you can get worsening symptoms of your asthma and that can land you in the ER or hospital if they get really serious,” Hudler said.

Hudler said reasons to seek urgent medical help or an evaluation include trouble breathing, wheezing, respiratory distress and increased cough or if you have a known history of asthma and have escalating symptoms.

“If you are experiencing a new allergy you’ve never had before or are concerned that your symptoms are quite severe and not being relieved with any over-the-counter medications, those would be reasons to come in for an evaluation,” she said.

How to treat and remedy seasonal allergies

“One of the most simple things you can do is avoid the allergen in general,” Hudler said. If you don’t want to take medication, she recommends looking at daily pollen counts and avoiding outdoor activity on high pollen days.

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She noted that it is not always easy to stay indoors in beautiful Colorado, and said most people experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms can find relief with home remedies and over-the-counter medications like antihistamines

For nasal symptoms, Hudler recommends trying an intranasal steroid like Flonase. She added that many people find sinus rinses to be helpful, especially with congestion. You can find over-the-counter nasal rinse kits at your local pharmacy.

New to Colorado?

While Hudler said Colorado is not one of the worst states for allergies when it comes to pollen counts, people who are new to the area could be exposed to unfamiliar allergens and experience new allergies.

“If you’ve recently moved to the state and are experiencing a variety of new allergens that you were not exposed to in the past it is very common for you to have allergies for the first time,” Hudler said.

She said getting on top of symptoms early can help you experience less severe symptoms and hopefully have fewer troubles and side effects.

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“Monitor your symptoms at home and if you have any questions or concerns that aren’t being addressed with your home remedies or home treatments, those would be reasons to go to your doctor for more intensive testing to see if you have a specific allergy that needs to be treated more,” she said.

Hudler noted that anyone can see an allergist and do tests to see which specific allergens affect them most.

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