In this week’s edition of Washingtoniana—our Thursday feature where we collect your questions about Washington and do some sleuthing to find the answers—we find out why people in Washington seem to get more allergies than elsewhere, even if they weren’t a
“I’ve heard that the reason people get so many allergies in DC that they’ve never had before is because the embassies all import their native floral and fauna and it affects people. Is there any truth to that?” —Mandy
In 2005, Ken Adelman interviewed an allergist for The Washingtonian to figure out why locals sneeze so much. One reason people with fall and spring pollen allergies have a difficult time in Washington is because the area has a high rate of asthma, according to Dr. Howard Boltansky.
“Between one-fifth and one-fourth of Americans have some type of allergy—Washington has a slightly higher proportion per population,” he said. Some people inherit allergies from their parents, but 10 to 15 percent of people develop them naturally. With the high rate of asthma in inner cities, Boltansky explained, many residents form life-threatening allergic asthma because they don’t have access to primary-care physicians, allergists, or pulmonary doctors.
Additionally, Washington has more than 230,000 acres of parkland and gardens, according to Washington.org. Boltansky said that because DC has more grass and trees than other cities such as New York, there’s a higher pollen count, which makes allergies more prevalent. He said that pollen counts in the spring are the highest of any season in this area. In recent years, counts have been up to 50 times more than normal, which means people who aren’t even allergic are affected. Ragweed affects allergies until the first frost, and mold and dust allergies endure year-round but seem worse in the winter because people spend more time in the heated indoors.
While embassies might import native floral and fauna, that’s not the cause of new allergy issues. After spending a few years exposed to the spring and fall pollen, Boltansky said, people who move to Washington and didn’t have allergies before will develop them. Your body can learn to be allergic to something from repeated exposure.
To keep the itchy eyes and sniffly noses away, Boltansky prescribed a few remedies: reduce dust-collecting items, especially in the bedroom, try a high-efficiency particulate air filter, make sure air-conditioner filters are kept clean during warmer months, and ask your office manager to check the carpets for dust mites.
Have a question about the Washington area? Send an email along with your name and place of residence to eleaman@washingtonian.com. We'll try to answer your question in an upcoming column.
Washingtoniana: Allergy City
In this week’s edition of Washingtoniana—our Thursday feature where we collect your questions about Washington and do some sleuthing to find the answers—we find out why people in Washington seem to get more allergies than elsewhere, even if they weren’t a
“I’ve heard that the reason people get so many allergies in DC that they’ve never had before is because the embassies all import their native floral and fauna and it affects people. Is there any truth to that?” —Mandy
In 2005, Ken Adelman interviewed an allergist for The Washingtonian to figure out why locals sneeze so much. One reason people with fall and spring pollen allergies have a difficult time in Washington is because the area has a high rate of asthma, according to Dr. Howard Boltansky.
“Between one-fifth and one-fourth of Americans have some type of allergy—Washington has a slightly higher proportion per population,” he said. Some people inherit allergies from their parents, but 10 to 15 percent of people develop them naturally. With the high rate of asthma in inner cities, Boltansky explained, many residents form life-threatening allergic asthma because they don’t have access to primary-care physicians, allergists, or pulmonary doctors.
Additionally, Washington has more than 230,000 acres of parkland and gardens, according to Washington.org. Boltansky said that because DC has more grass and trees than other cities such as New York, there’s a higher pollen count, which makes allergies more prevalent. He said that pollen counts in the spring are the highest of any season in this area. In recent years, counts have been up to 50 times more than normal, which means people who aren’t even allergic are affected. Ragweed affects allergies until the first frost, and mold and dust allergies endure year-round but seem worse in the winter because people spend more time in the heated indoors.
While embassies might import native floral and fauna, that’s not the cause of new allergy issues. After spending a few years exposed to the spring and fall pollen, Boltansky said, people who move to Washington and didn’t have allergies before will develop them. Your body can learn to be allergic to something from repeated exposure.
To keep the itchy eyes and sniffly noses away, Boltansky prescribed a few remedies: reduce dust-collecting items, especially in the bedroom, try a high-efficiency particulate air filter, make sure air-conditioner filters are kept clean during warmer months, and ask your office manager to check the carpets for dust mites.
Have a question about the Washington area? Send an email along with your name and place of residence to eleaman@washingtonian.com. We'll try to answer your question in an upcoming column.
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
A Cult Classic of Cannabis Brands Is Making Its DC Debut
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Speaker Johnson’s Megabill Prayers Likely to Be Answered Before Holiday Weekend, Wrongly Deported Maryland Man Faced Abuse in El Salvador Prison, and We Found Some Yummy Nepalese Food
Pardoned J6er Will Join Ed Martin’s Justice Department Office, Trump Outlines Hypothetical Alligator Escape Plan, and We Have Fireworks Show Recommendations
The “World’s Largest Outdoor Museum” Is Coming to DC. Here’s a Preview.
A Cult Classic of Cannabis Brands Is Making Its DC Debut
The Commanders Wine and Dine DC Council Members; GOP Senator Suggests Tax Language Was “Airdropped” Into Spending Bill; and Trump Wants DOGE to Investigate Musk
100 Reasons to Love DC Right Now
How DC’s Attorney General Got So Good at Double Dutch
DC Council Ponders New Way to Expel Trayon White, the GOP’s Budget Bill Advances, and We Found You Some Tacos With Ethiopian Flair