{"id":777687,"date":"2026-05-06T16:55:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/777687\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T16:55:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:55:32","slug":"how-to-survive-a-pollen-tsunami-and-5-signs-to-get-medical-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/777687\/","title":{"rendered":"How to survive a ‘pollen tsunami’ \u2014 and 5 signs to get medical help"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring in NYC is famously fickle<\/a> \u2014 we have to prepare for everything from slushy snow and gloomy rain to gusty wind and even \u201cpollen tsunamis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wait, pollen tsunamis? Before you consult your Farmers\u2019 Almanac, a pollen tsunami is a significantly longer and more intense allergy season buoyed by warmer temperatures, rising carbon dioxide levels and increased air pollution.<\/p>\n

Pollen seasons have\u00a0lengthened by about 20 days, while pollen concentrations have\u00a0jumped by 21%\u00a0over the past three decades, Dr. Clifford Bassett<\/a> said, citing research from 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AIt could be a cold \u2014 or it could be allergies. It might be difficult to discern unless you see a medical professional. New Africa \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Allergy sufferers already know it\u2019s worse than ever<\/a> \u2014 and it\u2019s not over yet. Bassett said the tsunami will reach its first peak in May.<\/p>\n

\u201cA 15-year study of the NYC metro area by the AAAAI National Allergy Bureau confirmed the seasonal pattern: tree pollen dominates and peaks in May, grass pollen peaks in June and ragweed dominates from August through October,\u201d Bassett, an allergist and immunologist at Schweiger Dermatology & Allergy Group<\/a> in Manhattan, told The Post.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the first pollen wave, Bassett shares five symptoms that signal it\u2019s time to see a board-certified allergist.<\/p>\n

\u2018Allergy face\u2019<\/p>\n

Bassett said he sees this vexing visage \u2014 dark circles under the eyes, puffy eyelids and creased lines beneath the lower lids \u2014 every day at the office.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatients come in convinced they just look tired or old,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not aging \u2014 it\u2019s allergic inflammation backing up blood flow around the eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brain fog<\/p>\n

A noggin that\u2019s foggin\u2019 typically means difficulties with concentration and memory. About 30% of allergy patients<\/a> report these troubles.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor kids, it can look like attention problems at school,\u201d said Bassett, who wrote \u201cThe New Allergy Solution.\u201d<\/a> \u201cFor adults, [the brain] operates at 60% all day, and we\u2019re not sure why.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relentless restlessness<\/p>\n

Studies confirm<\/a> that allergies significantly contribute to chronic fatigue.<\/p>\n

\"WomanAllergies can keep you up all night, tossing and turning, if you don\u2019t have a plan to tackle them. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cCongested nasal and sinus passages physically obstruct the airway at night, leading to mouth breathing, snoring and restless sleep,\u201d Bassett explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen sleep suffers night after night, everything cascades \u2014 fatigue, mood, irritability, appearance, performance at work and school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Persistent cough<\/p>\n

Postnasal drip \u2014 when excess mucus from the nose and sinuses drips down the back of the throat \u2014 often causes a cough that might be easily mistaken for a cold symptom.<\/p>\n

If the cough lingers for weeks instead of days, Bassett said allergies should be considered.<\/p>\n

Hearing troubles<\/p>\n

\u201cAllergic inflammation swells the eustachian tubes, [causing] that plugged-up, underwater feeling that people often blame on sinus problems,\u201d Bassett said.<\/p>\n

How to survive a pollen tsunami<\/p>\n

\u201cMany patients come in thinking they have \u2018bad sinuses\u2019 or \u2018a cold every spring\u2019 \u2014 and it turns out they have specific, treatable allergies they never knew about,\u201d Bassett said.<\/p>\n

Here are Bassett\u2019s six tips for nipping your allergies in the bud.<\/p>\n