Monday night’s freezing temperatures brought us one step closer to the end of ragweed season, and if you suffer from seasonal allergies, one step closer to relief.

Ragweed pollen is often considered to be the most common trigger of seasonal upper respiratory allergies. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports that about 36 million Americans are affected by ragweed pollen. If you are allergic, you probably experience swelling in the tissue around your eyes and inflammation of the lining of your nose. Some people only react mildly to the pollen or only react in cool wet weather when pollen counts are the highest.

You might be thinking that pollen counts are usually higher in spring than in late summer and fall. You are correct, but the counts are often based on the total amount of pollen in the air. If you are only allergic to a few types of pollen, you might have symptoms even when the reported counts are low.

Ragweed typically starts blooming (producing pollen) in July and keeps going until freezing temperatures kill the plants. During this time, each individual ragweed plant produces up to 1 billion grains of pollen. Research also suggests pollen grains travel as many as 125 miles with balmy autumn breezes.

This week’s drop in nighttime temperatures killed much of the ragweed in our area. Plants growing in areas that are protected by trees or near buildings that hold heat may survive through a few more frosty nights.

Ragweed is easily identified in the wild by its large three-lobed leaves and erect stems. Giant ragweed ranges from 3 to 16 feet in height. Because plants only live one season, they attempt to produce as many seeds as possible.

The only nice thing I can say about ragweed is that it is native to much of the United States, including Kansas.

Pollen from grasses (ornamental, native, and turf-type) that bloom in the fall is another trigger of late season upper respiratory allergies.

Rest easier, ragweed allergy sufferers: the dormant season is nearly here.