CLEVELAND — If you're sneezing, sniffling, and dealing with itchy and watery eyes, you're not alone. The rain, wind, and now sun turned up the speed on the pollen generators — mainly ash, maple, and elm trees.
According to Pollen.com, 75% of the country is experiencing high allergy status. Here in Ohio, 3/4 of the state is in the red, with the southern part of the state getting a brief reprieve.
Soon, oak, cottonwood, birth, sycamore, hickory, walnut, beech, and mulberry trees will start pollenating, too, and it will spread with every spring breeze. While tree pollen is similar, it's just different enough that it's difficult to nail down a single treatment for a tree pollen allergies.
If you see an allergist, they can test you and let you know specifically which trees you're allergic to and provide immunotherapy. Cleveland Clinic allergist Dr. Lily Pien says grass season hasn't started yet, but it's coming.
"When the grass blades flower, it looks like wheat in the grass," Pien told 3News. "That's when you know grass pollen season started."
The recent rain we had also helped spawn mold spores, and the windy days just spread everything around. So what can we do?
"Pollen typically gets worse when the sun is shining," Pien answered. "So try to get out before dawn if you're a runner, or after the sun begins to go down at night.
Pollen sticks, so routinely wash your hands, face, body, and hair. Also, washing your clothes and bedding in hot water will help. Keeping the windows closed may also help, and so can an air purifier. There are even personal air purifiers now available that you can wear, but they're pricey.
Antihistamines are likely your best option. Pien recommends the steroid or antihistamine nasal sprays for the sneezing and nose congestion, and the oral pills or eye drops for the itchy watery eyes.
This week, the pollen counts are expected to stay in the red for our region, and you can certainly expect more days like these for the next six weeks. But hang in there — allergies usually take a vacation in the dry heat of July, then come back with a vengeance in August for those allergic to ragweed.