Pollen refers to the tiny grains or seeds released by flowering plants, trees, weeds, and grasses while they are blooming. Levels of pollen in the air are highest in spring and fall.
Exposure to pollen can cause allergic reactions like hay fever (allergic rhinitis), which results in sneezing, runny nose, and congestion; or allergic conjunctivitis, which causes red, watery, itchy eyes. Pollen can also worsen the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
In hot conditions workers can easily become ill or injured. Workers who are more at risk are those who are 65 years or older, are overweight, have heart disease or other chronic health conditions, or take medications that make it harder for the body to cool itself.
One of the best ways to prevent heat illness is to be prepared for very hot weather. There are several things you can do to get yourself, family, home, and community ready to stay cool.
Some people are more likely to get sick from heat and should take extra care to keep cool when it is hot out.
What to Do: In general, make sure people have access to air conditioning, monitor them for signs of serious illness, encourage them to drink more fluids, and talk with their health care provider if they take medications.
Caregivers, relatives, and neighbors need to check on people that are not able to take care of themselves during hot weather.
Heat-related illnesses happen when your body cannot cool itself. Some heat illnesses are mild, like heat rash, sunburn, and heat cramps. Others like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration can be severe or even life-threatening and may require emergency medical care.
Find out about each type of heat illness and what you can do if you think you or someone else is sick because of heat.
Here in Maine, we don't have very hot weather too often. So when it does get really hot, we are more likely to become sick from heat. This is because our bodies are not used to high heat, and many of our homes and buildings do not have air conditioning.
Certain people like older adults, infants, pregnant women, and people who have chronic diseases or who are sick already may feel much worse or have serious problems in extreme heat.
Maine's climate, like the rest of the world's, is changing, and these changes may have a significant impact on the health of Maine people. A warming climate will lead to more frequent and extreme weather events and may contribute to longer pollen seasons and further spread of vectorborne diseases.
Maine CDC offers free home lead dust test kits to families with young children or children on the way. Order a free home lead dust test kit. Watch our video to see how to do the test.
Maine CDC offers free home lead dust test kits to families with young children or children on the way. Order a free home lead dust test kit. Watch our video to see how to do the test.
Providers must have approval from the MCLPPP before they can begin in-office testing.
Ensuring children are up to date on vaccinations is critical for protecting their health and preventing the spread of diseases. The Maine CDC Immunization Program provides access to vaccines recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) for children and adolescents. This ensures all Maine children can be protected regardless of their family's ability to pay.
