Allergy sufferers who live in South and Central Texas are quite familiar with allergy symptom triggers caused by pollen from native cedar or juniper trees. Cedar allergy season runs from November through March, but December, January, and February are peak months.[1]
Cedar trees pollinate during this time of year, releasing large amounts of pollen particles into the air that can travel with the wind for hundreds of miles. Timing and severity of cedar pollination is determined by rainfall amounts and other weather conditions.
Winter months in South and Central Texas cities like Austin and San Antonio, and surrounding areas are the most brutal for allergy sufferers, where cedar fever can bring on flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms can be severe and include itchy, watery, red eyes; nasal congestion, runny nose, sinus pressure; sore throat, fatigue, and sometimes slightly elevated body temperature.[2]
Coping with Cedar Allergies
If you’re susceptible to cedar pollen, there are a few things you can do to manage your symptoms:
- Stay proactive even before cedar allergy season begins – the most benefit occurs when you start taking your medications a few weeks in advance
- If you prefer drug-free alternatives, consider using the ClearUP® Sinus Pain Relief device, an FDA-approved and clinically proven solution. ClearUP is a small handheld alternative for allergy-related sinus pain and one treatment takes only 5 minutes. Use it 2 times a day for 2 weeks for maximum effectiveness.
- For other natural alternatives, you could reach for a Neti pot or saline rinse once a day
- Monitor local pollen counts – knowing when pollen counts are highest will help you manage your symptoms
- Stay indoors whenever possible, and change air filters frequently throughout the year[3]
- Keep doors and windows closed, and run the air conditioner on extremely high pollen count days
- Your vacuum cleaner should contain a HEPA filter to trap pollen to prevent it from being re-released into the air[4]
- Shower and change clothes after going outside, to remove cedar pollen from clothing and hair[5]
- Bathe pets more frequently during cedar season
- Replace cedar trees in your yard with good hardwoods like elm, ash, or oak[6]
Sources:
[1], 2 “What You Need to Know About Cedar Fever”, RediClinic Blog, January 24, 2018, https://www.rediclinic.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-cedar-fever/
[3], 5 “New to Austin? Only a matter of time before you get cedar fever”, Statesman, December 10, 2018, https://www.statesman.com/news/20181210/new-to-austin-only-matter-of-time-before-you-get-cedar-fever
[4], 6 “Cedar allergy remedies that work”, TexasMedClinic.com, December 11, 2018, https://www.texasmedclinic.com/cedar-allergy-remedies-that-work/
