AllergyNest

Allergy guides

How pollen is measured and forecast, what sets off cedar fever, what a mold count means and what food labels must say. Every claim links to its source.

Pollen and forecasts

Pollen index vs. countA pollen count measures the pollen grains a station caught in the air. A pollen index is a level on a scale, and Google’s comes from a model.Pollen forecastsA pollen forecast estimates pollen ahead of time from the plants that grow in an area, the point they have reached in their season and the weather to come.Cedar feverCedar fever is a winter allergy to mountain cedar pollen in central Texas. Here is where the trees grow, when they shed and why the pollen travels so far.

Mold

Mold spore countsHow counting stations measure mold spores in outdoor air, which spores they report, what weather and season do to the numbers, and why our pollen pages show no mold.

Food allergies

Food allergen labelsWhat US law requires a packaged food label to say about the nine major food allergens, what the rules leave out, and where “may contain” fits.

Winter and indoor allergies

Winter allergies at homeWhy indoor allergies are often noticed more when homes are closed up and heated: dust mites, pets, pests, mold, humidity and wood smoke, as sources describe them.Christmas tree allergiesWhat sources say about reactions to Christmas trees and holiday greenery: mold on live trees, pollen they carry, dust on stored decorations and tree sap, and what the research leaves open.Allergies or a coldHow a winter cold differs from allergies, as health sources describe it: the symptoms they share, the clues that set them apart and when sources say to get care.

Seeing an allergist

Allergists and your insuranceWhy an insurer’s name isn’t enough, how HealthCare.gov and CMS suggest checking a plan’s network, and what Medicare, Medicaid and the No Surprises Act add.

Looking up a word? The glossary defines the terms these guides use.