5 Tips for Surviving a Ragweed Allergy

The Midwest is a ragweed hot spot and Michigan is moderate to high for ragweed and mold, according to one local expert. 

“Ragweed is definitely here in abundance,” says Devang Doshi, M.D., director, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Beaumont Children’s Hospital, Royal Oak.

According to Doshi, nearly 75 percent of allergy sufferers, or 10 to 20 percent of Americans, are sensitive to ragweed.

Different varieties of ragweed are found in more than 40 states. Just one plant can produce 1 billion grains of pollen. Those sensitive to the pollen develop allergy or hay fever symptoms including: a stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and watery/itching eyes.

Doshi offers the following tips to those allergic to ragweed:

1. Limit your time outdoors.
2. Take over-the-counter medications to relieve your symptoms- nonsedating oral antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops, nasal sprays, etc. When taken appropriately, they can be effective. Check with your doctor prior to starting any OTC medications.
3.  Keep the doors and windows closed in your home. Use of air conditioning is helpful. Use of HEPA room and furnace filters is also helpful.
4. If nonprescription medications don’t offer relief from nagging symptoms, see an allergist. The doctor may treat the allergy with shots. This is known as immunotherapy.
5. Wash off the pollen. After being outside you can reduce the spread of pollen by changing your clothes and taking a shower.

Source: Beaumont Health System