CAPITAL REGION — The forsythia and daffodils have bloomed, trees are leafing out and the pollen is flying high.

With spring in full bloom, the misery of allergy season has also arrived.

“This time of the year the tree pollen is high; especially when it is warm, windy and dry, the counts are very high,” said Dr. M. Asghar Pasha, associate professor at Albany Medical Center’s Division of Allergy and Immunology.

For Pasha and other allergists, May is the busiest month of the year because in addition to tree pollens, grass allergies are starting.

“Allergens are very high. There are some patients who we see seasonally. We see them every May. As the pollen counts start to go up, we expect them to come back.”

Tree pollen can cause severe allergic reactions among patients that include itchy eyes, stuffed nose, sneezing and problems breathing through the nose at night. Associated asthma can also kick in.

In May, most allergy troubles come from tree pollens.

Dr. David Shulan, an allergist with Certified Allergy and Asthma Consultants, has been tracking tree pollen for 20 years and has found record levels in the last year. It’s not clear why, though it may be connected to warmer temperatures.

On Friday, the tree pollen count was 1,043, a high rating, and it includes birch, oak, elm and poplar trees (compare this to grass at level two and ragweed at zero).

Pollen counts are measured in grains per cubic meter and are assigned a severity level developed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau.

An allergy is an immune response by the body when an element — such as pollen, mold or dust — is introduced into the body, according to Pasha. At the first exposure, the body produces an allergy antibody. During subsequent exposures, the antibodies will trigger a reaction.

There are several mediators that are released by allergy cells. The mediators cause classic symptoms including sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, post-nasal drip and itchy eyes. It’s the body’s way to fight off the pollen or other element.

Allergies can be genetic but there is also a popular “hygiene hypothesis” that has found the incidence of allergic disorders is higher in developed countries of North America and Europe than in developing countries.

Studies show that in developed countries, with higher levels of hygiene and cleanliness, children are not exposed to infections and their allergic response gets stronger.

In developing countries, children are exposed to environmental infections and germs. They play in mud and drink raw milk, and the hypothesis is that it gives them protection from allergies, said Pasha.

Weather can also influence allergy symptoms. Allergy sufferers often find relief on rainy, cloudy or windless days because pollen movement is limited during these days.

Hot, dry and windy conditions result in higher pollen and mold concentrations, and increased allergy symptoms. Because pollens are microscopic particles, they are easily spread over great distances by wind, even as far as areas where a particular pollen is not “in season.”

Allergy sufferers may find relief this weekend as cooler, wetter weather moves into the Capital Region, which should lower the pollen count.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ingrid Amberger said if we get a heavy enough rain it can help clear out the pollen.

There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms today with highs in the mid-70s.

Overnight tonight, the chance of showers and storms continues with lows expected in the mid to upper 40s.

Sunday will remain unsettled with a continuing chance of showers and more clouds than sun. It will be cooler with highs in the lower 60s compared to the normal high temperature of about 70.

Dry weather is expected to return by the middle of the week with temperatures at seasonal levels.

Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, this could mean an increase in the tree pollens and a return to itchy eyes and sneezing.

Relief tips

There are some things you can do to reduce symptoms of plant allergies during high-pollen season:

u Keep windows shut and keep air conditioning on.

u After mowing the lawn, change your clothing because pollen will stick to clothes.

u Take medications prescribed for allergies.

u Check the pollen count; if it is very high, try to stay indoors.

Source: Albany Medical Center Division of Allergy and Immunology