Michigan is experiencing a high pollen count on Wednesday, May 6, as pollen creates a sneezy, itchy day for residents with seasonal allergies — and it likely won’t get better soon.
Allergies to tree, grass or weed pollen are a shared annoyance among millions on Americans. Starting in about March and continuing throughout summer, plants release powdery particles as the reproduce that cause people to sneeze, feel congested, cough, itch and swell in the eyes, nose or throat area, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“If you have a pollen allergy, your immune system thinks pollen is a dangerous intruder. It produces chemicals to fight off the pollen, and you experience an allergic reaction,” the Cleveland Clinic said.
From March to June, Michigan residents battle tree pollen, the Allergy Asthma Center of Rochester, Michigan, said, which spreads easily on warm, dry and windy days. Grass pollen typically occurs during the summer months, then ragweed pollen comes on strong in the fall.
Maple, birch, poplar, juniper and elm trees are the top allergen producers across Michigan right now, according to the Pollen.com national allergy map.
On high pollen-count days, experts recommend staying indoors as much as possible, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It’s also important to combat pollen indoors with some simple steps: take shoes off outside; shower as soon as possible; keep windows closed; wipe off pets outside; and wear fresh clothes to bed.
To help manage symptoms, pollen forecasts are available online, including at Pollen.com, The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, IQAir, Kleenex and the U.S. Air Quality Index.
More on Michigan’s pollen count on May 6:
Are pollen count levels bad in Michigan?
In Michigan, the pollen count is mostly high, meaning instruments are collecting high concentrations of pollen grains/ fungal spores and sensitive groups are likely to feel symptoms.
Here’s the May 6 pollen count — grains of pollen per cubic meter of air — for city across the state according to Pollen.com:
What is pollen?
Pollen is tiny egg-shaped male cells that appear as a yellow, fine dust or powder that gets released into the air by flowering trees, grasses and weeds the U.S. Forest Service said. This is part of a plants’ reproductive cycle and is essential to all of Earth’s ecosystems.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Allergy season is in full swing with tree pollen hitting Michiganders
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
