Cedar Fever

By Lorene Alba, Asthma Content Manager, DailyBreath

In the southwest part of the United States, pollen allergies can increase in the fall and winter. Mountain cedar pollen is in Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas from November through March. Pollination is heaviest during December, January, and February. Central Texas has many cedar trees, causing an intense pollen season. This is also known as “cedar fever.”

The cedar and Ashe juniper trees have cones that hold pollen commonly known as mountain cedar. During fall and winter wind gusts, the cones easily fall from the trees at the same time. The pollen releases all at once, creating a cloud of yellow/orange pollen. Because the pollen is so small and light, the wind can carry it hundreds of miles away. It is easy to inhale.

Typical symptoms include a stuffy and runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing. You may experience feeling tired, headaches, plugged ears, difficulty smelling, or a sore throat. Symptoms can come on suddenly, be significant, and may be worse if you have asthma. A fever is not usually a symptom of cedar fever, so if you feel flu-like or have a fever call your doctor.

If you have allergy symptoms during the fall and winter seasons, talk with your doctor about allergy testing. Together, you and your doctor can identify your allergens and develop a treatment plan.

Manage your pollen exposure outside.

·        Check the weather, wind, and pollen forecasts on the DailyBreath app. Adjust activities as needed if possible

·        Pollen counts start to rise in the morning and are high at midday. Plan outdoor activities in the early morning or evening

·        Exercise indoors

·        Wear a mask

·        Keep your car windows closed and use the recycled air feature for the AC and heat

Reduce pollen inside.

Unfortunately, pollen that is outside often makes its way inside. Below are steps to take to reduce the amount of mountain cedar in your home:

·        Take your shoes off outside or inside at the front door to avoid bringing pollen inside

·        After spending time outdoors, change your clothes and bathe before sitting on the furniture or going to bed. Rinse or wash your hair to remove any pollen

·        Vacuum at least once a week with a HEPA filter vacuum

·        Damp dust with a microfiber cloth at least once a week 

·        Bathe or wipe pets down often, even if they live inside

·        Keep the windows closed when possible

·        Change the air filters as recommended by the manufacturer

·        Use an air purifier

·        Use an allergy spray such as Allergy Defender to keep the pollen from becoming airborne

Treat your symptoms.

Talk with your doctor about the severity of your symptoms, where you have them, and when you have them. Together, develop a treatment plan that will work best for you. Treatments include:

·        Antihistamines

·        Nasal rinses with saline

·        Nasal corticosteroids

·        Allergy shots

·        Cook foods that may cross-react with pollen, or avoid them altogether

Be aware of oral allergy syndrome

People who have pollen allergies may also experience oral allergy syndrome. This happens when allergens found in pollen and raw foods cross-react. Common cross-reactions for mountain cedar include:

·        Apple

·        Cherry

·        Bell peppers

·        Kiwi

·        Paprika

·        Tomato

·        Beef

·        Yeast

If you think you may have a mountain cedar allergy, see a board-certified allergist to get tested. Always follow your asthma action plan and carry your rescue inhaler with you to manage symptoms as needed.