As usual the ragweed season has arrived. Ragweed allergy sufferers, be prepared for an especially nasty ragweed season. The hot, dry summer will cause very high ragweed pollen counts. Ragweed and nettle plants are the predominant pollens at this time. Up to 20 percent of Americans suffer from ragweed allergy, which is the number one cause of hay fever, with symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing, eye irritation and itchy eyes, nose and throat.

Ragweed blooms in mid-August through October is associated with about 15 different species in the sunflower family. According to experts the pollen from the ragweed plant is an extremely potent allergen. Each ragweed plant produces about a billion pollen grains per season, and these tiny grains can travel up to 400 miles due to their light weight! Resources at Achoo Allergy and Air Products document that ragweed allergy causes Americans to miss 3.8 million days of work or school each year. Of the ragweed allergy sufferers who are able to go to work, one-third of them report decreased efficiency.

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References: www.achooallergy.com/ragweed-season.asp; site visited 9/1/11.

WebMD's editorial staff on the latest news from the world of health, Thursday, August 26, 2010; Achoo! Ragweed Season Is Here; Laura J Martin, MD, MPH Medical Editor, WebMD

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38837127/ns/healthallergies_and_asthma/t/how-survive-years-raging-ragweed-season/; site visited 9/14/11.