If the freezing weather wasn’t enough, this past week has been nothing short of miserable — my household has gone through enough tissues to stock a small pharmacy. And no, this isn’t just some run-of-the-mill cold. It’s allergy season, and surely, I’m not alone.
If you’re in North Texas, chances are you’re caught in the same sneezing, sniffling, itchy-eyed whirlwind. That’s right, it’s cedar fever season in full, relentless swing.
This time of year is notorious for the high pollen levels released by mountain cedar trees, which pollinate heavily during the winter months. Their pollen is a common allergen for many people in the region. The recent storms and cold fronts moving through North Texas didn’t only bring several inches of snow — it also likely brought additional pollen.
Here Comes The Pollen
“Immediately before and after a cold front it gets very dry and windy and the pressure changes very rapidly,” said Karl Flocke, a woodland ecologist for Texas A&M Forest Service. “This triggers the opening of pollen cones and the release of the pollen grains.”
The National Weather Service, told Local Profile some gusty winds were seen with the front that moved through last week. While the 20-mile-an-hour winds didn’t feel like much to you and I, that doesn’t mean small allergens weren’t moving.
What Is Cedar Fever
According to Baylor Scott and White Health, winds blowing from the west, south and southwest carry the pollen to various parts of the state, including North Texas. Up to 20% of Texans suffer from "cedar fever," named for inflammation-induced temperature increases rather than true fevers.
Cedar allergy season in Texas, caused by related plants with nearly identical pollen, runs from December to February, usually peaking in mid-January when more precipitation and winds occur. Male trees release pollen in a smoky haze, while female trees produce blue-green berries. Mountain cedar trees release massive amounts of pollen, making allergy sufferers feel miserable.
“There are millions of junipers out there all releasing pollen at the same time,” said Flocke. “You can’t help but breathe it in, and when you do, your body reacts as it would to any perceived threat — it tries to fight it.”
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of cedar fever often mimic those of a cold or the flu, including sneezing, nasal congestion or a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes and a sore or scratchy throat. A true fever can occur, but it is not as common.
Allergies are not fun for anyone. If your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, relief is possible — but it’s important to act early.
For sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes and congestion, your primary care doctor may suggest over-the-counter options like nasal steroids, antihistamines, eye drops or saline rinses. If those aren’t effective, a prescription antihistamine nasal spray may be recommended for stronger symptom relief.
While the DFW traffic is predictable (it's bad!) Texas weather is not, so it's probably best to keep a few tissues on you this time of year.
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