When trees begin to bloom, local allergists know it's only a matter of time before their offices will fill with patients.
"Usually, right at the beginning of March, there's a lot of miserable people with allergy-type symptoms," said Sherry Philip, allergy nurse at Dalton Ear, Nose & Throat in Georgia.
Though allergies occur year-round, this winter has seemed especially harsh on people because of the abundance of rain, which causes more mold spores, she said.
Dr. Curt Chaffin, an allergist with the Chattanooga-based Allergy and Asthma Group, said he has seen more patients coming in this year than in previous years.
Area pollen forecasts are calling for levels varying from moderate to very high in the next four days, already causing some to seek refuge from the itchy, watery eyes commonly caused by an allergic reaction.
Dr. Todd Levin, an allergist at the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic, said pollen allergies usually start in February and peak in late March to early April, but the recent rain and cold weather have "delayed the tree pollen."
That's because most tree species -- especially the usual allergy culprits such as oak, hickory, dogwood, pine and maple trees -- are wind pollinated, said Joey Shaw, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Mr. Shaw said rain doesn't directly affect pollination, but humidity levels caused by rain can.
"Pollen grains travel long distances," he said. "If we get a rain, that keeps the humidity up and dampens the pollen grains, and they're not going to be airborne as long."
When pollen does arrive in the nasal cavities, Dr. Chaffin said, he tries to give patients practical advice. Changing clothes and washing your hands after coming in from outside can get rid of pollen and keep sneezing or runny noses to a minimum, he said.
FIGHTING POLLEN* Drive with your car windows up and keep your home windows closed.* Wash your hands and change clothes when you come in from outside.* Get pollen out of your hair by using a damp towel.* Wipe off your pet after it has been outside.Source: Local allergistsFAST FACTS* 50 million: Estimated number of people in the U.S. affected by asthma and allergies.* 40 million: Americans who have indoor/outdoor allergies as their primary allergy.* 17 million: Outpatient visits per year in the U.S. relating to allergies. Seasonal allergies account for more than half of all allergy visits.* 4 million: Missed or lost workdays each year as a result of allergies.Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
"Now is not the time you want to be sleeping with the windows up," Dr. Chaffin said. "And you'd be surprised how many people who are affected by allergies drive with their windows down."
When preventive measures aren't enough, though, he prescribes medicine or sometimes suggests a series of allergy shots.
Ms. Philip said allergies affect people of all ages, but most non-food-related allergies tend to appear as a person gets older.
"As you get older, you're going to notice more allergies because your body has had the chance to be exposed to things," she said. "But there's no real specific age range that it affects."
If allergy sufferers are looking for relief without a trip to the doctor, they need to be aware that not all allergy medicines are created equal, said Jeffrey White, a pharmacist at Walgreens on East Brainerd Road.
"A lot of people get it wrong," he said, noting that many people choose medicines that don't correspond with their symptoms.
Mr. White, who has worked as a pharmacist for more than 30 years, said there are two main types of allergy medicines -- antihistamines and decongestants -- and they work for different symptoms.
"If you have, say, itchy eyes and a runny nose, you need an antihistamine because they dry you up. Think of it as a water faucet," he said. "If my nose is stopped up, if I have a headache, tightness, that means the water's off. You need to open it, so you need a decongestant."
Click here to vote in our daily poll: Do you suffer from seasonal allergies?