Austin Allergies

So maybe you’re relatively new to Austin and you’ve heard we have some allergy problems here. There’s a lot that could be said, but in a nutshell, you can remember this: If you’re miserable late December through mid-February you’re probably allergic to mountain cedar. If you’re miserable late March to late April, then you’re probably allergic to oak. Certainly there are other allergens in the air that will give us intermittent torment through the rest of the year, but I’ve seen these two give the most trouble to those around me. No matter who you are though, even if you haven’t seen a doctor you can still likely use the below chart to deduct what you’re allergic to based on the time of year you’re having trouble.

If you’re not sure what you’re allergic to, you can go to the doctor and get tested.  They’ll prick your arm with a dozen or so different allergens and depending upon the radius of how it swells they’ll tell you how you match one of the above main allergens as well as dust, dogs, an cats. If you’re open to being called for research studies, you can get a free allergy test at Sirius Clinical Research.  After being diagnosed, doctors may be able to give you weekly shots, as well as a few other more cutting edge treatments that have recently become more prevalent.

Some people report being groggy though every week on the day they get their shots, so in some ways they still have to play at a bit of a handicap even though they are being treated. I know other people (myself included) who have chose to live in a certain area of the city specifically for the reason of escaping the proximity of what they’re allergic to. Although it might not be feasible for everybody, this strategy DOES actually work to a great degree. To demonstrate this point, look at this map (straight from google) and ask yourself what is the first thing you notice?

It’s obvious that there is a topographic and vegetation fault line so to speak, right?  West Austin in general is the beginning of “Hill Country” and covered in Cedar (with some oak here and there as well).  The east side is flatter terrain and has far less trees, thus it is therefore easier on people like me who fight serious battles December-February. I have family and real estate clients that frequently bring me into West Austin during that season, and YES, there is a difference in the air and way I feel! I would not be able to live in West Austin day in day out without some medicinal assistance.

If you happen to like history as well, you might be interested to know that this area wasn’t always like this. When the settlers first came over to this area is was mostly just grassy hills, perfect for grazing cattle. It’s our fault (well, our ancestors that is) that these Cedars have taken over, and you can read more about it at this link: https://youtu.be/bO_oY_buLBk

Photos courtesy of flickr.com/23959586@N00/ , google maps, and Sirius Clinical Research.