May 13, 2014
/PRNewswire/ -- WebMD (Nasdaq: WBMD), the leading source of health information, today announced that consumers, after suffering through a "Polar Vortex" that brought record snowfall and disruption to cities across the U.S., are in for an intense allergy season as a result of the "Pollen Vortex" currently affecting the nation.
Over 7 million monthly visitors to WebMD have been diagnosed as suffering from allergies.
WebMD has leveraged Symptom Checker data and other insights gleaned from its audience of allergy sufferers to provide tools and resources that can help them navigate the Vortex and better manage their allergy symptoms.
According to WebMD data, with soaring pollen counts stemming from blooming trees coupled with seasonal moisture and rain, many regions across the nation are experiencing their worst allergy season in the last 4 years. As illustrated by the
WebMD Allergy Map
, consumers in the Southwest are experiencing the worst case of allergies so far, in large part due to tree pollination and potentially from this season's increased rainfall. Close behind, the Pacific Northwest, West and Southeast have seen dramatically increased levels of allergy symptoms from trees, but there are signs the situation is tapering off. The Northeast is still gaining momentum and experiencing high symptoms. While the Midwest region is still enjoying some symptom downtime, WebMD is seeing evidence of allergy symptoms on the rise and suggests that all regions brace themselves for an accelerated spring allergy season.
"In recent years, allergy seasons have grown increasingly intense due to several possible factors," said Dr.
, WebMD Chief Medical Editor. "For people with tree and mold allergies, this year is likely to be even more challenging due to the confluence of multiple factors, including trees blooming all at once due to the long, cold winter and mold that thrives in rain and moisture that much of us have been experiencing."
With one of the worst allergy seasons on hand, consumers can keep in mind the following tips when combating allergy symptoms this season: