Allergy season ramps up with tree pollen surge; doctor shares relief tips
Doctors say starting treatment early is key, as symptoms often worsen as pollen levels rise.
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Seasonal allergies affect about 60 million people in the United States each year, with tree pollen acting as the main trigger in early spring.
Doctors say starting treatment early is key, as symptoms often worsen as pollen levels rise.
“It's really important to jump on it early, as it gets harder to treat as the season goes on and as the pollen gets higher,” said Dr. Philip Hemmers, chairman of allergy at Saint Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Dr. Hemmers tells his patients to take a multilevel approach to tackling allergy season head-on.
“On those really beautiful, sunny, windy days, you want to limit your time outdoors and limit exposure outdoors,” he said.
The allergist also says it’s important to take your medication.
“It's a good idea to start with over-the-counter,” Dr. Hemmers says. “Now, it’s not always that the medicines stop working; it’s that the allergies are progressively getting worse.”
“As the season goes on, your body is becoming more reactive to the pollen. So, the amount of allergies above what that medicine is able to treat — that’s when it's important to seek your doctor's advice.”
Nice, warm weather is also a time when people are doing more lawn care, gardening and many other outdoor activities. Dr. Hemmers says a mask is also a good thing to have on hand.
“One thing we learned from COVID is that wearing the mask adds a layer of protection, especially if you're out in the garden or going for a hike.”
Along with a mask, Dr. Hemmers says sunglasses will help keep some of the pollen out of your eyes and nose.
