Fall Pollens

Fall pollen season in El Paso is dominated by ragweed, pigweed, tumbleweed, and saltbush which release lightweight pollen in late summer into autumn. These wind-pollinated weeds thrive in the region’s dry, disturbed soils and produce abundant pollen as daylight shortens and temperatures remain warm. Common symptoms for sensitized individuals include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, nasal congestion or runny nose, postnasal drip, coughing, and worsening of asthma with wheeze or shortness of breath. Symptoms worsen outdoors and improve indoors with air filtration and reduced exposure. The reason these weeds trigger allergies is that their pollen grains are small, aerodynamic, and produced in huge quantities, allowing them to stay airborne for long periods and penetrate the nasal passages and airways, provoking an allergic response in susceptible people.