CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – If you’ve been sneezing and sniffling a lot lately you’re not alone.
Well, the start of spring is also the start of the spring allergy season and if you’ve been sneezing and sniffling, the tree pollen is on the high side right now. The main allergens are Maple, Juniper, and Mulberry. The tree pollen will remain high through about April.
Then in May and June, our concern will be for grass pollen and then in August, it will be the weed pollen. Tree pollen will continue to be high, especially on dry days and mold will be moderate. So if you are an allergy sufferer chances are you will be feeling it this week.
Over 60 million American’s suffer from seasonal allergies and for Dan Hill from Chicopee, it means an annual trip to the allergist for his dad, “It’s a seasonal thing with him every year. He has to get checked out and when he gets it, it’s pretty bad.”
Some allergy symptoms include sneezing, itching, congestion, itchy or watery eyes, sinus pressure, and pain in the face.
It’s not your imagination that allergy season is getting worse. According to a study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications.’ every region in the U.S. has experienced longer and more intense allergy seasons for the past 30 years as the climate changes.
Some tips to reduce your exposure to allergy triggers:
- Stay indoors on dry, windy days
- Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens
- Remove clothes you’ve worn outside
- Shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair at night
The 22News Storm Team also said that while it seems backwards, rainy days are good because it washes the pollen out.
