Pollen clouds remind us of spring

Do you feel that your allergies are in overdrive? You are not alone.

Pollen has increased nationwide over the last few weeks, according to pollen.com site forecasts, which means that nearly 50 million Americans will suffer from a combination of runny nose, watery eyes , itching in the eyes or sneezing when their allergy symptoms increase, according to the American. College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

"It's hard to predict and every year it seems to come sooner than expected, but it's here and it's only going to get worse over the next few weeks," said Dr. Saira Sheikh, an allergist specialist. , immunologists and rheumatologists. and the director of the rheumatology, allergy and immunology division of the University of North Carolina.

The pollen content is highest in the Midwest, including as far north as Wyoming. The Northeast and South are not far behind, according to Pollen.com, the online forecaster for allergies led by health care consultant and IQVIA researcher.

A video recently captured by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Georgia showed how pollen is available. When the department's helicopter flew over a tree, a gigantic yellow tornado of pollen swirled from the branches, dominating the trees.

Pollen clouds cause bad memories

Each spring, plants release tiny grains of pollen to fertilize plants of the same species and could sometimes give rise to large clouds of yellow pollen like this in Tennessee. According to the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology, most of the pollen causing allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses .

A cloud of viral pollen from last year showed a massive plume of pollen falling from a tree in New Jersey. These clouds may be common in pollen-rich areas such as the Midwest and Northeast, but they may begin to appear where they have not been seen before.

"Places where we have not seen environmental allergies, like Arizona, are now experiencing an increase in allergies. There is no relief anywhere, "Sheikh said.

Reach a fabric? How to fight against pesky allergies

Although the best way to treat your allergies is to counter the symptoms before the start of the season, do not worry if you have not started yet. As USA TODAY reported a few years ago, there are still many ways to prevent the worst of your seasonal afflictions.

The first step is to make sure you know exactly what you are allergic to, according to Sheikh.

"The best thing to do is to make sure that they receive a correct diagnosis. "It can really change your life," Sheikh said. The words "these are only seasonal allergies" compromise the quality of life, its impact. "

More: Like people, dogs can have seasonal allergies

Over-the-counter drugs like nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops offer some relief. For most people, nasal sprays, including Nasacort and Flonase, can take several days to be effective, but everyone can react differently, according to experts.

More: Google wants to save you sniffles with new pollen forecasts.

If over-the-counter medications do not work or if the symptoms persist longer than the traditional pollen season, an allergist may offer other forms of treatment, such as vaccines or allergy medications. Allergists may also prescribe other medications, including more powerful nasal antihistamines.

Finally, see a doctor if your symptoms begin to affect your daily ability to function.

Although it may take a few years, allergy treatments could eventually rid patients of their symptoms forever, Sheikh said. After weekly treatment during the initial phase of treatment, lasting for six months to a year, patients could possibly need a single shot once a month before they can live from their fear of the yellow cloud.

Contributor: Linda Lombroso, The Journal (Westchester County, N.Y.)

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