Looking forward to cooler temperatures? So are dust mites.

As the summertime draws to a close and noses get stuffy, ragweed pollen tends to catch all the criticism. But there’s another risky substance floating around.

“The times of the year that your windows might be open are gonna be the times of the year when dust mites can really peak,” said Dr. Katherine Cahill, the director of clinical asthma research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The tiny little bugs feed off the skin cells in dust, and some people are allergic to them. Dust mites exist year round, but allergy symptoms like congestion, coughing and post-nasal drip can get worse when the bugs are having a good time.

“They thrive when we thrive, in those moderate humidity levels and moderate temperatures,” Cahill said.

This is like any other allergy, though. Antihistamines, nasal sprays and other treatments are effective, and those with severe reactions can get extra help at the doctor.

As long as the temperatures stay relatively high, ragweed is going to be a major culprit for allergies. And anyone who struggles with that particular pollen should buckle in, Cahill said.

“So many patients this time of the year may say, like, ‘I feel like my allergies symptoms are lasting longer,’ or may be more intense,” she said.

That’s because summers are getting hotter and lasting longer. The year 2024 broke the record for both hottest year in Nashville on record and its latest freeze – which didn’t take place until Nov. 29.

“Those ragweed pollens aren’t going to go until we have our first frost,” Cahill said.