b'SPRING POLLEN ALLERGIES IN NORTH TEXASBy Robert W. Sugerman, MD | ContributorAhhh,springtime!Renewalofdormantlife, lengthening of daylight hours, gentle breezes, and the promise of lazy summer days ahead But for some people (approximately 15% of the population), the arrival of spring brings misery in the form of runny nose,sneezing,congestion,anditchy,wateryeyes caused by pollen allergies.Owing to a combination of climate and geography, pollen season in North Texas actually starts with cedarpollinationinJanuaryandFebruary,which overlaps with spring tree pollens February through April.And immediately after spring thunderstorms wash away the last remnants of oak pollen in mid-April, pasture grasses start to grow rapidly, dispersing largequantitiesofpollen,whichcontinuethrough most of the month of June, or even longer if we have a cooler, wetter summer. So, if you are allergic to exactlythreecommonpollinatingplantsinNorth Texas (cedar, oak, and grasses), you can expect to experiencediscomfortingallergysymptomswith outdoor activities in bright, breezy conditions during the months of January through June.Incaseyoudidntnoticefromthebrieftourof allergenicpollensabove,thekindsofplantsthat botherallergysufferersarenon-floweringvarieties thatproducelargequantitiesofverytinypollen grains, most of which are individually invisible to the naked eye. Why is this important?First, wind-borne pollens may travel long distances.Thus, removing that majestic live oak tree from your yard will not only have little effect on your total pollen exposure, but it will also set you back thousands of dollars in property value.Second, what you see blowing in the wind is 32GoodLifeFamilyMag.comMARCH 2020'