Allergy season is here! Health officials give tips on protecting yourself

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - If you have runny nose, itch eyes or maybe even clogged ears, you are not alone.

Spring allergies are on the rise and doctors are calling for a longer and more harmful season of allergies than you may be used to.

Doctor Majed Koleilat is an allergist and immunologist with Deaconess, he says allergy season usually starts in the middle of March and right now we’re seeing the full blow.

“We have seen year after year, an increase in the amount of patients that require allergy care, it’s mainly due to increased pollen level and longer season due to increase temperatures,” said Dr. Koleilat.

He says the Tri-state specifically may see an even harsher allergy season than normal.

“We’re close to a river, and we have fairly warm weather, so we are at a higher risk of increased pollen levels,” said Dr. Koleilat, “The trees that are in our area are like birch, maple and cottonwood and these are the ones that are pollinating this time of year.”

Daily weather also plays a huge part.

Dr. Koleilat explains, “Where you’re going to have some rain, the pollen levels will go down and then when the sun comes up again you’re going to have a rebound of the pollen levels.”

Though these symptoms are nothing to be too worried about.

“For most people environmental allergies are just a quality of life issue, but you do have patients who also have allergic asthma and for those it’s much more severe,” Dr. Koleilat said.

If you are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms, there’s a couple things you can do.

The first is to avoid what you’re allergic to.

If you go outside, make sure to wash your hands and hair, and change your clothes as soon as you’re inside.

Doctors also recommend trying over the counter medication like Zyrtec or Claritin to ease your symptoms.

If you are asthmatic or find yourself experiencing more severe, long term symptoms, check with your doctor about possible allergy injections or other forms of treatment.

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