Springtime is here and its arrival heralds a difficult time for many allergy sufferers.
One allergist tells us the seasons affect people differently.
Some may be more susceptible in the spring, summer or fall depending on what sparks a reaction for them.
They say allergy season is from February all the way through November.
For the people that suffer in the spring, it's most likely because that's when trees begin to pollinate.Â
"The people that are allergic to tree pollen, they're going to start having their symptoms on windy days," said Dr. Jeff Nugent, Allergist with Northern Nevada Allergy. "Really windy days after rain is when we have the higher pollen counts, but we're going to have pollen now until Thanksgiving."
Some people may have reactions to different trees as some pollinate earlier than others, and it is hard to tell when some trees do pollinate.
"You'll know when Cottonwood comes because we'll have that white blanket of Cottonwood pollen, but before then we're going to have the Junipers, the Elms, the Maples," said Dr. Nugent. "We're going to have a lot of other trees that you may not actually see, but your nose and eyes will see them."
So, if your allergies are running rampant right now, those Maples, Elms, and Junipers may be what you are susceptible to.
Dr. Nugent says your nose is the best indicator of pollen.
He says with Nevada being so dry, people who tend to have dry eyes, nostrils, or skin will be the most susceptible early.
He recommends people use moisturizers to rub on their nose or skin and natural tear drops for the eyes.
He also suggests using the least amount of drugs possible.
Dr. Nugent says if your allergies start to turn into chronic or respiratory issues or if your symptoms are increasing in severity, that's when you should get more treatment.
"We have great treatments. There's no reason to suffer," he said. "We have good treatments for allergies. So, for people that's really bothersome to them and they've tried a lot of over-the-counter remedies, that's when you would come in and see one of us."
One person has their own method that works for them.
"Actually, I use the Neti pot, kind of got onto that one not too long ago, but I like that one a lot it's like a saline flush of your sinuses," said Geoffrey Lemay, local resident. "That one actually helps more than anything else. Especially if I have pressure built up."
