Breathe Easy Through Seasonal Allergies

Pollen Count Melbourne FL

Get today’s pollen count in Melbourne FL and the upcoming allergy forecast. While you’re here, learn how to interpret pollen counts and allergy forecasts, and how you can live more comfortably throughout seasonal allergies with the help of Brevard County’s favorite Allergist Dr. Pavana Beerelli.

“Dr. Beerelli has assembled a top-notch team of professionals. Her and the staff are attentive, understanding, and willing to listen, which is difficult to find these days. The office is clean and comfortable. Would recommend to anyone with seasonal/food allergies.”

– Mark S., May 2021

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About Allergy Forecasting

Today’s Pollen Count

Pollen Counts Explained

Types of Pollen Counts

Interpreting Pollen Counts

Seasonal Allergy Relief

Today’s Pollen Count in Melbourne FL

View today’s pollen counts in Melbourne, FL on Pollen.com.

Allergy Forecast for Melbourne FL

View the 5-day allergy forecast for Melbourne, FL on Pollen.com.

Pollen Counts & Allergy Forecasts Explained

If you have allergies (or suspect that you might have allergies) daily pollen counts can help give you some idea of how much allergen is currently present in the air. Levels of tree pollen, grass pollen, and ragweed pollen are reported most often, while some reports also cover mold and dust. Generally the higher the count, the greater the chance that individuals with allergies will experience symptoms. There is variation in how reporting is done, but most systems present counts as “low”, “medium”, “high”, or “very high,” and some differentiate by allergen (oak tree pollen vs. ragweed pollen, for example).

A pollen count or mold count is based on the measurement of the number of grains of pollen or mold spores per cubic meter of air collected in real-time or over a recent time period such as the last 24 hours. This ‘real-time’ data is combined with current weather patterns and historic data to estimate allergy forecasts for the coming days.

Pollen counts and allergy forecasts are imperfect for a number of reasons that we discuss in more detail in the sections below, but they can help you make decisions about your day and prepare for allergy symptoms if you know what you’re allergic to.

Types of Pollen Counts

It’s important to understand that pollen counts can have different meanings for different people. Depending on what you’re allergic to, how sensitive you are to a specific allergen, and how your symptoms develop when you’re exposed to a specific allergen, the overall pollen counts in Melbourne FL may accurately reflect your experience or they may not. You may be most sensitive to tree pollen or grass or maybe ragweed — these allergens peak during different seasons in Florida, so more detailed allergen reports can be helpful if you’re allergic to a specific type of pollen.

Tree Pollen

Trees release pollen to reproduce throughout the long Florida springtime, which typically spans from late December through May (nearly half the year!). Common culprits of tree pollen allergies include American elms, bayberry trees, bluejack oaks, maple trees, pine trees, and river birch trees. Tree pollen allergy symptoms in Florida will differ from person to person, and can include:

Coughing
Frequent sneezing
Itchy, watery, red eyes
Runny nose
Sinus pressure
Asthma symptoms

Grass Pollen

Grass pollen season typically runs from April through October in Florida. If you’re allergic to grass pollen, symptoms can include:

Itchy, stinging, watery eyes
Scratchy throat, excess saliva
Runny nose, nasal congestion
Congestion
Coughing, wheezing
Asthma symptoms
Fatigue
Trouble Sleeping

Ragweed Pollen

Ragweed (and ragweed pollen) is virtually everywhere in Florida, and is a prime cause of allergies from May through December. Ragweed is a common allergen primarily because of its microscopic spore size – just one ragweed plant produces more than one billion grains of pollen per season, and ragweed spores are known to travel for hundreds of miles when carried with the wind. Symptoms of ragweed pollen allergies are similar to grass pollen.

Mold

While not technically a pollen, mold spores spread through the air like pollen and are often reported alongside pollen in allergy forecasts. They persist in damp, humid, and cool environments especially in decaying plant matter. For the average household, mold can be present in felled leaves, grass clippings, compost piles, and rotting or wet wood. Mold allergens are least prevalent in the winter and become more prevalent as temperatures warm again. Mold allergies have all of the symptoms of grass and ragweed allergies, but can also include hives, worsening eczema, swollen eyelids, wheezing, and upset stomach.

Do You Know What You’re Allergic To?

Allergy symptoms tend to be relatively consistent from allergen to allergen. In other words, an allergy to oak tree pollen can look a lot like a ragweed allergy, but you’re not necessarily allergic to both if you’re allergic to one of them. Understanding exactly what you’re allergic to can make it much easier to navigate seasonal allergies and know what you should (and should not!) be avoiding. This is where allergy testing comes in. Get in touch with us at Melbourne Allergy & Asthma if you’d like to explore your options.

Allergist testing for pollen allergies in Melbourne, Florida

Interpreting Pollen Counts & Allergy Forecasts

Pollen counters are placed on the tops of buildings where they collect air samples through a variety of methods. Pollen in the air is collected on some type of surface, and the amount of pollen collected is analyzed by a trained technician. Calculations are then made to estimate how much pollen is present in the air based on what is collected over a specific period of time. Pollen levels (low, medium, high, or very high) are reported based on averages of airborne pollen collected throughout previous years.

There are accuracy limitations when it comes to pollen collecting, counting, and reporting. Pollen counters are intentionally placed to collect a representative sample of air in the area, and even though pollen can distribute across many miles, the local plants and conditions near the pollen counter can be overrepresented while unique spots throughout the reporting area can be underrepresented.

Another source of inaccuracy is time of day. Some pollens, such as grass, are mostly active in the morning hours and are less so later in the day. Changing weather conditions can also alter actual pollen counts in a big way, rendering the day’s established counts inaccurate. Even without these factors, the types and amounts of pollen collected can also change over the course of a day and from day to day.

Finally, it’s worth restating that different people are more or less sensitive to different allergies. Low, medium, high, and very high are designations that are used to estimate the relative proportion of allergic people that will have symptoms, but a high or very high report does not necessarily mean that every allergic individual will be affected.

Breathe Easy Through Seasonal Allergies in Florida

Pollen counts and allergy forecasts can help you to better navigate life with allergies, and there are several other easy steps that you can take to breathe easy through seasonal allergies in Melbourne, Florida:

Get Tested

Dr. Beerelli can help you determine if your symptoms are caused by allergies and pinpoint what you’re allergic to so you can find relief. Diagnosis starts with a thorough medical history, and usually involves skin or blood tests to determine your allergic triggers.

Once you’re aware of what’s causing your allergies, there are steps you can take to minimize exposure to allergens, effectively manage allergic reactions if they occur, and prevent certain allergic reactions altogether.

Limit Your Exposure to Airborne Allergens

Check your local pollen counts whenever you check the weather
Limit outdoor activities during times of high pollen counts
Wear sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat to reduce pollen exposure when outdoors

Allergy-Proof Your Home

Keep windows closed during high pollen and mold seasons
Steam clean carpets or remove carpets altogether
Avoid air drying laundry outside
Change clothes as soon as you get home if you’ve spent a lot of time outdoors
Keep pets out of the bedroom to reduce pet dander in your bedding
Vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce dust in your home
Wash your bed linens and pillowcases in hot water and detergent frequently to reduce allergens
Use dust mite proof covers for pillows, comforters, duvets, mattresses and box springs
Men should shave frequently to prevent pollen from gathering in their facial hair

Manage Symptoms with Medications

There are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help relieve allergic rhinitis symptoms. These include:

Antihistamines
Decongestants
Nasal corticosteroids (nasal spray)
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
Cromolyn sodium

Be sure to discuss any medications with your allergist prior to using them. Medications to relieve seasonal allergic rhinitis, for example, are most effective if you start taking them before pollen is in the air, prior to allergy symptoms developing.