The sun is shining, the weather is warming and everyone is sneezing.
Allergy season is reaching its peak in Las Vegas, where on Monday the pollen levels were among the highest in the country.
Local experts are encouraging residents that are sniffling and coughing to consult their physician or a pharmacist about finding a remedy that can keep the allergies at bay.
“We’re seeing pollen counts rising kind of all over the Southwest … and that just has to do with, kind of, things blooming during the spring season,” said Nicole Henry, a pharmacist at CVS. “Now, everything is blooming quite a bit more, we’re seeing that increase in pollen increasing and dusting those particles, so that is affecting people and can be affecting them in different ways.”
More than a quarter of adults and children in the United States have at least one allergy — including seasonal allergies, eczema or food allergies — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The agency’s National Center for Health Statistics found that almost 26% of adults have a seasonal allergy, and white, non-Hispanic adults tend to be the most affected. On the other hand, roughly 19% of children are reported to have a seasonal allergy and boys are more likely to be diagnosed with one than girls.
In Clark County, pollen levels have been consistently high, but not for abnormal reasons, Henry said.
Pine trees are among the big pollen contributors in the Las Vegas area.
Seasonal allergies are triggered by pollen, which is released in the springtime by plants, trees and grass, and fertilizes other plants of the same species. When people affected by allergies inhale the airborne particles, their immune system reacts by sending antibodies to attack the allergens.
This defense mechanism can cause runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing common during the spring blooms. More severe symptoms include a worsening cough or issues breathing, Henry said. Sometimes, these symptoms can prompt more asthma-related visits to the hospital, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
“With over 100 million people affected by allergies, it’s the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.,” said Melanie Carver, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America chief mission officer, in a statement. “Allergies are a common asthma trigger and lead to increased hospital visits for asthma during peak pollen seasons.”
Typical allergens given off by plants such as mulberry, juniper and ash trees have begun to flood the air as spring makes itself known in the Southwest, which is why people could be seeing more seemingly sick individuals, she added.
Last year, the region dealt with a late spring bloom that was about 10 days behind normal, according to the USA National Phenology Network at the University of Arizona.
The allergy season usually lasts from March through May, and may even extend into the summer months, but this year the region seems to be crawling into spring — and the season of sniffling — at a pace consistent with previous years, the USA Phenology Network reported.
Las Vegas has consistently ranked high among allergy capitals, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Allergy Capitals report.
In 2024, Las Vegas ranked 35th among 100 metropolitan cities with a total “score” of 78.4 — surpassing cities like Miami, Austin, Texas; San Francisco; Los Angeles; and New York. While the subtotals for pollen and medicine use have remained stable since last year, the region has a worse than average rate of specialists available to help those living with allergies.
Henry said there were a number of options for medications based on the severity of a person’s allergies but noted that it’s important for patients to speak with a health care provider first to see what is best for them — especially if they use other products for another condition. Residents can speak with their local CVS pharmacist for free with no appointment, she noted.
There are three classes of allergy medications: antihistamines that block anything causing runny noses; decongestants that open the nasal passage to allow for better breathing; and corticosteroids, also known as anti-inflammatory medications.
“Most over-the-counter products can support people with allergies for mild and moderate symptoms,” Henry said. “(But) any type of severe allergy symptoms — which would be trouble breathing, they feel very constricted, any difficulty there or any kind of severe-level symptoms — that’s when they should schedule that appointment with a nurse practitioner and then get a prescription for an inhaler, possibly a steroid … We just want to make sure they get help right away if they’re experiencing these severe allergy symptoms.”
Alternative therapies, such as nasal washes or other saline-based products, are available for people who prefer a drug-free remedy, Henry said.
But the pharmacist also encourages people to practice regular hand-washing procedures, stay indoors if pollen levels are high and brush any pets outdoors to ensure they aren’t bringing allergens into their house.
For next year, Henry suggests people start preparing two to four weeks prior to the start of allergy season.