It’s peak ragweed season in Michigan now. Here’s how to cope with it.

Unfortunately, ragweed is extremely prevalent in the state in the State of Michigan, and about 20% of us are allergic to it. Right now, and until we get our first frost, we are in peak ragweed season. If you are sniffling and more congested than usual, ragweed is likely the culprit. Here’s some info to help you understand what ragweed is and how you can best cope with the fall allergy season.

Ragweed is a plant that flowers and spreads its pollen every year at this time and it can grow just about anywhere. Ragweed is in rural areas, vacant lots, wooded areas near your home, and along roadsides. It’s a hardy plant that released a lot of pollen. And even though you might not be physically near a ragweed plant, that pollen can travel long distances, so there’s really no escaping it. If you are noticing that you often have a runny nose or nasal congestion, eye or throat irritation, or an increase in mucous production, you may be allergic to ragweed.

Until we get that first frost of the season, here are some steps you

can take to ease your misery:

This is what common ragweed looks like.

If you have any ragweed growing on your property, or in close proximity to your home, clearing it away right now will help. But that will only help so much, since a ragweed plant’s pollen can travel quite a distance and still give you grief.

If you are suffering from fall allergies, your first step is to check with your doctor or an allergist who can best determine the best medication for your needs. Getting an early start on daily medications can help keep your symptoms at bay. If you need a prescription refill or need help dealing with your allergy symptoms when your primary care physician or allergist is not available, IEP Urgent Care can help.

"IEP Urgent Care is available to offer customized treatment regimens based on your symptoms, history, and exam." says Dr. Nick Dyc, IEP Urgent Care's Medical Director,  "Your visit with us will average 45 minutes, we send prescriptions immediately to your pharmacy of choice, and we have extended business hours 7 days a week."

Even though we are likely to have some great weather between now and the onset of colder days, if you suffer from ragweed allergies, it’s important for you to keep your windows shut at all times. With cooler nighttime temperatures, many of us enjoy opening some windows at night for that ideal sleeping temperature. Don’t do that.

Check your furnace filter. If you haven’t done so yet now is a great time to invest in a high-quality filter designed to trap allergens. Replacing your air filter as recommended by the manufacturer is also wise. Typically, you’ll want to change your filter once a year, either in the spring or fall. Before purchasing a new filter, make sure you know the correct size for your filter.

Replacing a furnace filter is a really easy task, but if you aren’t sure, calling a reliable heating and cooling company to take care of this for you is worth the effort. Filters that are rated at MERV 13 are widely recommended as effective for helping to trap ragweed and other allergens from entering your home. Here are some furnace filter options to consider, as reviewed by the New York Times.

Once you have a high-quality filter installed, and your windows are closed, run your furnace fan so that the filter can do its job. To better understand how much pollen is actually in the air on any given day, there are a variety of sites, such as Pollen.com that provide geo-located pollen counts.

Finally, make sure that you and your family aren’t tracking ragweed into your home. If you’ve been outside doing yard work, or out for a long walk, take your shoes off immediately when you enter your home. It might also be a good idea to change your clothes and take a shower, especially before bed. Introducing traces of ragweed pollen into your bed will only make you more miserable as you sleep.

Taking these steps now will allow you enjoy our beautiful fall weather and help keep the allergy sniffling and congestion at bay.