April 8, 2025 – Are you being hit this spring with coughing, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes?
If so-called hay fever is new to you, don't be surprised – doctors say we can develop allergies as adults. And if you've always had allergies but feel they're worse now, join the crowd – warmer weather means more pollen in the air, scientists say.
Welcome to the golden age of seasonal allergies. Aboutone in four adults have them, whether they were sneezy kids or not.
"It is possible to develop any allergy at any age," saidMargaret Huntwork, MD, an immunologist and allergist at the School of Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans.
The Big Easy has become the Big Sneezy, jumping to second place in a list ofAllergy Capitals released in March by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Many Southern and Eastern cities carry a greater burden of seasonal allergies, though Wichita, Kansas, has topped the list the last three years.
The group ranks cities based on pollen counts, use of over-the-counter allergy medication, and the number of allergy specialists.
New Orleans, which previously held the 34th spot, saw exploding weed pollen counts in 2024, probably because of Hurricane Francine's mid-September rains combined with the warmest November on record. "As temperatures rise and humidity patterns change, we are seeing changes in pollen patterns," Huntwork said. Add those beautiful Southern live oaks and–achoo!
"We certainly take pride in our beautiful oak-lined streets here, but it can be our downfall in allergy season," she said.
But throughout the country, allergy issues can strike. A warming climate means plants produce more pollen, the main trigger of "allergic rhinitis," med-speak for the usual symptoms. And that pollen is arriving earlier each year and lasting longer, researchers say.
Why Am I Sneezing So Much?
Your runny nose and prickly eyes are signs that your body's immune system is working. Your body is reacting to a foreign material – pollen, dust, mold, whatever – and it releases histamines, chemicals that make your eyes water and trigger coughing or sneezing to dislodge the irritant.
"Most people develop their allergies between 10 and 30 years old," saidJohn James, MD, an allergist and immunologist and spokesperson for the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
It's hard to put a number on how many people first have hay fever as adults, James said. But there are some trends about who is most likely to start sniffling.
Women are more likely than men to have seasonal allergy symptoms (30% versus 21%), according to theNational Health Interview Survey. White adults (28%) are slightly more likely to have the symptoms than Black adults (24%), Hispanic adults (24%), and Asian adults (17%).
Symptoms can wax and wane, depending on what's blooming and what plant pollen causes your allergies. The three big pollen seasons are:
- Tree pollen season: Late winter through mid-spring and includes oak, elm, maple, and cedar
- Grass pollen season: Spring through summer and includes Bermuda, rye, and Kentucky blue
- Weed pollen season: Summer through fall and includes ragweed, pigweed, and mugwort
Southern states, like muggy Louisiana, can have fewer frost-free days, extending the allergy season on both sides.
"We experience an extended tree pollen season [spring], followed by aggressive grass [summer] and weed [fall] pollen seasons. High humidity contributes to increased mold counts and dust mite exposure," saidAndrew Abreo, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Manning Family Children's in New Orleans. "It's less of an allergy season and more of a year-round challenge."
Maybe it's a cold? Probably not, if symptoms decrease once you're away from the allergen.
Just to confuse matters more, pollen isn't always the guilty party: "A stuffy or runny nose might indicate nonallergic rhinitis, a condition triggered by irritants, temperature, or humidity, rather than environmental allergens," Abreo said.
Why It Feels Worse These Days
It's not your imagination – allergies really are getting worse.
"People are surprised allergy seasons are getting longer and stronger, but that's due to climate change," saidPurvi Parikh, MD, an allergist and spokesperson for the Allergy and Asthma Network, a nonprofit patient advocacy group.
Over the past decade, Parikh has noticed patients having more severe symptoms over longer periods of time.
On top of warming weather, higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere "are making plants produce more pollen as well," Parikh said. "The higher amounts of pollen make allergies more severe."
Adult-onset allergies can arise when people move to a new place, or when a pollen-heavy season hits. "We see it more and more as people move from one city or country to another and as climate change makes allergy seasons worse," Parikh said. Your body may react to allergens it hasn't encountered before.
Huntwork sees this with New Orleans newcomers, though it can be delayed.
"When people move here from out of town, they usually have one great year," she said. Subsequent years can come with a blossoming allergy affliction.
Scientists don't fully understand what triggers the development of new allergies, but they believe both environment and genetics are at work.
There's also evidence that extreme weather like high-wind thunderstorms, wildfires, and hurricanes can send pollen out farther than before, said James. This could cause some allergic reactions in people far away from the original plant.
Air pollution is another factor. "The pollen can attach to these pollution particles and stay around longer," he said.
What Can I Do About It?
The science is complicated –pollen grains range in size from a few microns wide to 100 microns, playing a role in how severe symptoms are and how well treatments work. Your best bets are simple:
- Close windows and doors to keep pollen from coming inside.
- Change clothes worn outside.
- Shower after outdoor activities to keep exposure to pollen to a minimum.
- Regularly clean home surfaces, including bedding.
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.
Plenty of over-the-counter allergy medications can help control mild to moderate bouts, James said. If medications and behavioral changes don't help, consult an allergist, he said.
An allergist can help identify the trouble pollen and give guidance on whether sublingual immunology (drops placed under the tongue) or allergy shots will help. These medications could improve an allergic person's life, especially for people who like to spend time outside or have moderate to severe symptoms, James said.
Seasonal allergies can sometimes cause more than sniffles and sneezes. Pollen allergy symptoms can include rashes and eczema, Parikh said, and adults can even get asthma if their allergies are bad enough.
"If you have any breathing symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, this is a sign of asthma and you need to see a doctor," she said.
Trouble breathing shouldn't be treated with over-the-counter medicines, she said.
"We see a rise in asthma attacks this time of year. This is important to treat, as [it] can be deadly. We have 11 deaths per day in this country from asthma – which is entirely preventable with appropriate treatment," Parikh said.
One simple trick that doesn't work: Eating local honey to help get your body used to local pollen. "That's really more of a myth than a fact," James said.
