March 27, 2012

Spring has sprung as flowers and trees in the area start to bloom, but it is also beginning to affect people's allergies. We are currently in the middle of tree pollen season, and grass pollen allergies start to kick up in May.

Dr. Madeline Dillon of Allergy Partners of Charlottesville says that symptoms of allergies often begin in late-February or early-March, however that was not the case for this area.

"This season things have come a little bit earlier. We have seen people have problems in the middle of February. I think given that we have had such a warm spring and didn't really have a great freeze with the winter, I think we are going to have a much longer and robust allergy season this spring," she explained.

This is not good news for people who are suffering from allergies right now. Charlottesville resident Trish Nardone says they affect your whole day.

"It's been a horrible allergy season this year. Our whole family has been stuffed up and sneezing. We've had runny noses," she said.

According to Dr. Dillon, other symptoms of allergies are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, watery eyes, itching of the nose and itching of the throat.

An allergist is able to test different types of pollens on your skin to know what it is exactly that's causing your allergic reaction, which will help them put you on a treatment plan that can help make your immune system less allergic to those items.

If you do have allergies and still want to enjoy the outdoors, Dr. Dillon suggests changing clothes and washing your arms and face. Those steps will help get rid of any pollen that could be on your body.

There are also over-the-counter antihistamine pills or eye drops available to combat allergies.