For many pollen allergy sufferers, the mid-summer seasons offers a brief reprieve with low pollen counts until the weed season. Unfortunately the weed allergy season is right around the corner. Weeds typically begin pollinating in the late summer to early fall seasons.

In particular, ragweed produces very high levels of airborne pollen that contains highly allergenic proteins. In addition, the ragweed plants release significant levels of pollen all at once. So ragweed has a kind of triple whammy effect of releasing large amount of airborne pollen with highly allergenic protein all at once.

Ragweed (pictured top left) is actually relatively predictable regarding when it begins to pollinate to the degree that in some areas of the U.S., the first day it begins pollination can be accurately predicted within a time span of only a few days. Goldenrod (pictured bottom right) is a showy, late summer blooming flower that blooms at about the same time as ragweed which has, historically, been blamed for much of the allergy symptoms rather than the less conspicuous ragweed.

However, goldenrod weed is actually primarily insect pollinated by bees and butterflies producing relatively low amounts of airborne pollen and is therefore largely innocent as a culprit of allergy symptoms. Other important weeds that pollinate during the late summer and early fall seasons include: pigweed, lamb’s quarters, marsh elder and mugwort. The allergists at Atlanta ENT, Sinus and Allergy Associates can help you determine what you may be allergic to with simple skin testing. Based upon your symptoms and skin test results, we can you form a strategy to help control your symptoms so that you can feel better and breath better. So feel free to call to make an appointment with one of our qualified, board-certified allergy physicians.