Achi news desk-
Spring is finally here! And you know that means you get to see powder on your car, bike, shoes, and pretty much everywhere you go.
The spring season is known to bring with it pollen that can trigger seasonal allergies that everyone dreads but struggles to stop once they start.
Dr. Elizabeth Jenkins of the health company Patient First has seen an increase in people coming to her with allergies over the past month, 12 on your side report.
She suggests taking action “as soon as you start seeing those little buds on your trees, or those yellow things on your car, whatever tends to set you off.”
She said: “I usually recommend starting ahead of time before you get the symptoms. Antihistamines have very few side effects, they’re usually quite safe, they’re quite cheap.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a quarter of adults and children in the US suffer from at least one allergy.
“When you’re walking down the street and you see clouds and dust flying from trees, you’re at peak dust. You can see it on your cars and surfaces,” 12 on your side Emergency Meteorologist Andrew Frieden said.
He says that this time allergies can be stronger because of global warming.
“As we continue to warm the planet, we see in particular that the winters are shorter and milder, and this results in the start of the pollen season a little earlier.
“And some studies have shown that having trees that produce pollen do a better job. They’re more efficient at it, and it can last longer,” Frieden said.
So what should you do this time to avoid serious allergies?
Besides taking over-the-counter medications to help with your allergies, both experts said there are a few ways to prepare for those allergies.
“Avoid pollen, so try not to exercise outside, wear a mask if you’re outside, do things like yard work,” Dr. Jenkins said.
“Do a powder rinse if you’ve been outside mowing the lawn. You can also do saline rinses to flush out your sinuses.”
