HOUSTON-Houston's finishing one of its hottest and driest summers on record.
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Ragweed season is here, Houston
September 22, 2009
That's the good news.
The bad news is that with the dry cool autumn winds comes ragweed.
And nobody knows it better than Cindy Sax.
"I used to get upper respiratory attacks twice a year in the ragweed season in September or October and again in spring with grass and trees," said Sax.
She is not alone. Tens of thousands of people are allergic to ragweed.
"Typically, if they are on a nose spray type of medication this is the time to start that type of medication," said Doctor Alnoor Malick. "It usually takes two or up to four weeks to protect them thru the ragweed season."
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Officials at Houston's health department say they are detecting higher pollen counts, and that some late summer rain just north and west of the Houston area has caused ragweed pollen to flourish.
They say that things may worsen if a cold front brings dry cool air to our area because it will push ragweed pollen in our direction.
The solution is to stay indoors, said Dr. Malick.
"Try to avoid outdoor activity when it is a dry, hot and windy day because more pollens will be in the air," he said. "Try to avoid early morning activities. Ragweed is going to be highest during the early morning hours."
