Mountain Cedar Worst Pollen Of The Year Has Arrived In Texas

Allergy season is never fun, but it reaches a whole new level of uncomfortable here in Texas. We have the pleasure of dealing with mountain cedar, by far the worst of our pollens. It just began rearing its ugly head and should peak right around Christmas.

December 1 marked the beginning of mountain cedar season, a time we Texans love to hate. It’s the worst of our many pollens, showing up every year during the holidays and not leaving for months.

Flickr/Andy Heatwole

Central Texas harbors the largest population of cedar in the entire U.S. Everything really is bigger in Texas, even things we’d prefer remained small.

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Cedar finds its way into the air rather slowly, peaking right around Christmas. Better bring a box of tissues to your family gatherings!

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

As winter starts drawing to a close - that’s February here in Texas - so, too does the pollen. It usually coincides with Valentine’s Day, so runny noses shouldn’t get in the way of smooching your other half.

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Run-of-the-mill allergy symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and throat itching usually present with cedar. The severity, however, is usually amplified, so more aggressive treatment may be necessary.

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Steroid nasal sprays are quite strong, which is why doctors recommend them as the first line of defense. Unfortunately, these medications aren’t as effective when started after the season has already begun, so you’ll likely need to double down.

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Over-the-counter antihistamines can be safely combined with a nasal spray. They only provide short-term relief but work almost immediately.

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Have you ever been affected by mountain cedar? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts on its return for yet another year. Tell us all about it in the comments section!