4月もつらい花粉症、症状出る年と出ない年の差はなんなん？西宮の先生に聞いた【Dr.にしつー】

In our previous article, we wrote “If you have any questions about hay fever, please send them in for the doctor! We may feature them in an article~” and a Nishi2 reader sent us a question right away!

Previous article on the latest treatments↓

「花粉症がツラすぎる」西宮渡辺病院の先生に最新の治療法を聞いてきた【Dr.にしつー】

2026年2月24日

Thank you so much~~!!

Here’s the question↓

Question from a Reader

“Why do hay fever symptoms appear in some years but not in others?”

You know how some years you’re suffering terribly, but the next year it’s not so bad… or the opposite—”Is it just me, or is this year really bad??” We’ve all been there.

So, continuing from last time, we asked Dr. Kitano, an ENT specialist at Nishinomiya Watanabe Hospital!

「花粉症がツラすぎる」西宮渡辺病院の先生に最新の治療法を聞いてきた【Dr.にしつー】

2026年2月24日

Here it is on the map↓

The address is 10-22 Murokawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

1 Q. Why do symptoms appear in some years but not others?
2 The “Cup of Water” Analogy Makes It Easy to Understand
3 Other Factors Also Play a Role

Q. Why do symptoms appear in some years but not others?

The biggest reason is that “pollen levels vary from year to year.” Cedar pollen in particular fluctuates dramatically each year.

Wait, the amount of pollen isn’t the same every year?

Not at all. We know that when the previous summer has more sunshine hours, pollen dispersal increases the following year.

So last summer is what determines it…! I had no idea it was decided that far in advance

The “Cup of Water” Analogy Makes It Easy to Understand

People with hay fever produce antibodies (IgE antibodies) that react to pollen. However, symptoms don’t appear unless the pollen exceeds a certain threshold.

So it’s like water filling up a cup, and when it overflows—BAM! Symptoms hit all at once?

Exactly! In years with low pollen, the cup doesn’t overflow, so you think “I was fine this year.” But in high-pollen years, it overflows all at once and you’re like “Why am I suffering so much?!”

So it’s not that you’re “cured”—it’s just that there happened to be less pollen that year…?

That’s right. Even in low-pollen years, the sensitized state in your body persists. When a high-pollen year comes around, symptoms can return.

Other Factors Also Play a Role

Are there other things besides pollen levels that matter?

Absolutely. Even in years with the same pollen levels, some people suffer badly while others are fine. These factors also come into play.

Factors Beyond Pollen Levels That Affect Symptoms

● Stress
High stress can cause immune responses to overreact. It’s entirely possible that hay fever gets worse in years when work is stressful.

● Air Pollution & Yellow Sand (Asian Dust)
Polluted air and springtime yellow sand combined with pollen can worsen symptoms.

● Age
As people age, immune function changes, and some say “it’s gotten easier than before.” However, new cases can develop even at age 70, so don’t let your guard down.

Stress is a factor too~! Why not enjoy Nishinomiya with our latest new shop opening articles and relieve some stress~

西宮浜町にできるヤマダストアーは3月28日オープン。西宮店オリジナル「ヤマダピザ」も

2026年3月12日

さくら夙川にできる「資さんうどん」がプレオープンやるみたい。4月4日から

2026年4月1日

Nishinomiya Watanabe Hospital - ENT Department

Services Available at Nishinomiya Watanabe Hospital ENT Department
・Allergy testing (blood tests, respiratory tests, etc.)
・Oral medication
・Sublingual immunotherapy
・Injection therapy
・Nasal laser treatment
・Surgical treatment
*All of the above treatments are covered by insurance.

Visit: ENT Outpatient Clinic
Advance reservations (AI Phone): 050-1808-7183
Weekdays 8:30–16:30 / Saturdays 8:30–11:30
*The AI phone also accepts bookings outside these hours! You’ll receive a callback on the next business day.
Same-day reservations: 0798-74-2630
*No referral letter required

You can make a reservation with just one phone call. It gets busy during pollen season, so we recommend booking early~ Also, just so you know—no referral letter is needed, so don’t worry about that!

[PR] This article is brought to you by Nishinomiya Watanabe Hospital. The content is intended to provide general medical information and does not guarantee the effectiveness of any specific treatment. Symptoms vary between individuals, and treatment results also vary between individuals.