Does Colorado’s high elevation impact allergies?
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather has been nice lately, and naturally, Coloradans are getting outside. But sunshine and temperatures in the 60s mean allergy season has arrived.
In Colorado, allergy season spans more than half of the year, beginning in late February or March and lasting until the first freeze, which typically occurs in early to mid-October.
Common allergens in Colorado and what to know for allergy season
While most of the Centennial State sits between 4,000-14,000 feet above sea level, it’s no surprise that Denver Health pulmonary health physician Andi Hudler said some allergy symptoms can be different in Colorado compared to at sea level.
How does high elevation impact seasonal allergies?
Hudler said the high elevation in Colorado won’t have a big effect on allergies other than the fact that it determines which plants and species grow.
“Whether you live in the plains of Colorado versus the mountains, you are going to experience different allergens,” Hudler said.
In the mountains, common allergens often include evergreen, juniper and aspen trees. For the plains, the more common allergens are grasses and weeds. Cottonwood and cedar trees tend to be some of the more prominent culprits in the Denver metro area.
Symptoms may be more prominent at high elevations
The high elevation in Colorado has more of an impact on people who experience asthma along with their allergies, Hudler said, adding that up to 40% of people who experience seasonal allergies will also have asthma.
“There is a lower partial pressure of oxygen in the air here in Colorado because of the higher altitude, and so you are probably going to develop symptoms sooner or you may develop symptoms that you may not feel as prominently at sea level where you have more oxygen in the air,” Hudler said.
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Because of this, Hudler said any signs of respiratory distress like trouble breathing, wheezing and increased cough that are not being treated with home inhalers are signs for people with asthma to seek an urgent evaluation.
While Hudler said Colorado is not one of the worst states for allergies when it comes to pollen counts, she added that it is common for people who are new to the area to 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 recommends using over-the-counter allergy medications like antihistamines, over-the-counter nasal rinse kits, and/or an intranasal steroid like Flonase.
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