CLEVELAND — If you have allergies, the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio's Pollen Line is a good place to start your day. It's updated by local allergists daily between April 1 and Oct. 1.
Northeast Ohio is notorious for miserable seasonal allergies, and the pollen report can help prepare you for what to expect. Cleveland Clinic allergist Dr. Lily Pien advises people to remember that pollen is worse when the sun is out, so if you suffer from allergies, try to get outdoor activities done in the early morning or evening hours.
She says it's also important to keep windows closed during high pollen days, and use air conditioning when possible in the warmer months to keep allergens out of the house. Rinse your hands, face, eyes, and hair routinely during the day, because pollen tends to stick.
According to Pien, right now we're dealing with tree pollen allergies, but grass pollen allergies are starting to emerge. Things should settle down by July, but then ragweed becomes an issue in August.