You can blame warmer temperatures, which \u201cextend the duration of the pollen season,\u201d and pollutants in the air that \u201ccan increase the potency of pollen allergens,\u201d NYU Langone allergist Dr. Stephanie Mawhirt<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Other human activities could be worsening the problem, like landscaping with non-native plants that produce a lot of allergens.<\/p>\n Mawhirt tells The Post that a combination of these factors may be why adults are increasingly being diagnosed with allergic rhinitis<\/a>, or hay fever. In 2023, the CDC reported<\/a> that 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children in the US have seasonal allergies.<\/p>\n It may also help explain why your trusty allergy meds aren\u2019t working like they used to.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no cure for seasonal allergies, but many people reach for daily pills and nasal sprays<\/a> to help manage symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unfortunately, stronger pollen in higher amounts may essentially be resistant to standard over-the-counter treatments for people with relatively severe seasonal allergies.<\/p>\n Short of locking yourself inside an air-conditioned room until July, Mawhirt recommends keeping your pollen exposure to a minimum by closing windows at home, utilizing air conditioning or air filters, showering before bed and using OTC nasal saline rinses.<\/p>\n \u201cResearch supports the start of pharmacologic therapy, such as nasal sprays before pollen season starts, to help mitigate symptoms,\u201d she said, adding that concerned individuals can monitor the pollen load and air quality in their area using apps like Pollen Wise<\/a> or AirRater<\/a>.<\/p>\n If symptoms persist, it might be time to check in with an allergist.<\/p>\n Skin tests and blood work can identify the type of allergens that pose a problem, including specific pollens. An allergist can also evaluate other allergic disorders, \u201cas some patients with rhinitis may also have or be at risk for developing allergic asthma,\u201d Mawhirt explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some patients will have to work with an allergist to create a more detailed treatment plan. This might involve allergen immunotherapy \u2014 also known as allergy shots \u2014 which is a \u201cspecialized treatment protocol aimed at changing the way the immune system responds to allergens,\u201d with a goal of being \u201cless reactive, and in turn, more tolerant to allergens over time.\u201d<\/p>\n Environmental allergies causing allergic rhinitis can pop up at any point in life.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe prevalence of allergic rhinitis peaks between ages 20 to 40, but most patients have allergy symptoms at even younger ages,\u201d Mawhirt said. \u201cA period of allergic sensitization needs to occur, and for this reason, the youngest age of environmental allergy symptoms is usually after age 3.\u201d<\/p>\n And while allergic rhinitis shares a lot of characteristics with an upper respiratory infection (viral cold), they are not the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both typically present with nasal congestion, sneezing or a clear runny nose, Mawhirt said. But a fever indicates an infection, \u201cand a decreased sense of smell or sore throat is more common in a viral infection.\u201d Nasal itch, on the other hand, is usually associated with allergies.<\/p>\n While pollen season in the Northeast typically ends by late May or early June, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America<\/a> reports that between 1995 and 2011, studies showed warmer temperatures across the US extended the pollen season by anywhere from 11 to 27 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/124537540.jpg\")
More adults are being diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, making allergy season less and less bearable. Sandor Jackal \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/sick-sad-middle-eastern-man-124537575.jpg\")
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, Dr. Stephanie Mawhirt recommends adding a saline nasal spray to your daily routine before the pollen season starts, usually in early spring. Maria Vitkovska \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n