Texas continues to be a very popular destination among people from all walks of life. In fact, Texas has consistently held the record for the largest annual growth in population from 2010 to 2016, the last year for which official statistics are available. The state of Texas has been growing by approximately 211,000 people per year, according to the Census bureau. With so many transplants arriving in Texas every year from different regions, newcomers may not be used to the common Texas allergies that many locals are already accustomed to.

About Seasonal Texas Allergies

About 10% of the population of the United States suffers from allergies, and Texas is no exception. Major cities in Texas, including McAllen and San Antonio are among the worst in the country for people suffering from allergies.

 
• Winter: In some locations in the U.S., allergies disappear during the frigid months of winter. But the opposite is the case in Texas, where winter is the worst season for allergens. The state is known for annual cases of cedar fever, which are allergies provoked by cedar trees, sometimes so strongly that victims think they have a case of the flu.

 
• Spring: Allergies tend to occur nationwide during the spring. The main cause of spring allergens is pollen from oak trees. To a lesser extent, other allergen-producing trees include cottonwood, elm, ash and pecan.

 
• Summer: Allergy sufferers in Texas are typically reacting to grasses, including Bahia, Bermuda, Orchard, Sweet Vernal and Timothy. You will often encounter these grasses on the side of the road, lots and other abandoned areas.

 
• Fall: Ragweed is a major allergen affecting Texas residents during fall. Temperate areas in Texas will often experience strong reactions to ragweed because the plants grow more freely, emitting as many as one billion pollen grains each season.

Coping With Allergy Season in Texas

When it’s allergy season in Texas, you’ll know soon enough, without needing to consult the news for the latest allergies forecast. There are steps you can take to minimize the effects of allergens, including:

 
• Replace carpeting with floors in your home. It’s easier to sweep away allergens than to vacuum them up (vacuuming can spread more allergens)
 
• Try over-the-counter allergy medication.
 
• Use prescribed medication recommended by your physician.
 
• Irrigate your nasal passages with a warm water solution from a neti pot.

Still Suffering From Allergies in Texas?

If standard over-the-counter allergy medications are not proving effective in combating your body’s reactions to common allergens in Texas, there’s no need for you to suffer. Many patients find it beneficial to treat their sinus issues stemming from allergies by undergoing a safe and minimally invasive procedure known as balloon sinuplasty. This procedure is quite safe and has been approved by the FDA for treating patients in the United States. The surgeon inserts a balloon into the nasal cavity and then inflates it gently to reshape the passages, providing relief. To learn more about the balloon sinuplasty approach or to make an appointment with the American Sinus Institute, please get in touch with us today.