Allergies hitting hard this spring across central North Carolina
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) -- Many of you might be nursing your sinuses and having sneezes attacks as allergy season approaches full bloom, and timing might be a factor this year.
"Well, at least it's not winter," said Dr. Christopher Chao with Rex Express Care in Holly Springs.
Chao said budding trees, green grass, and full flowers primed to produce pollen are impacting allergy sufferers all at once since an unusually cold winter delayed plant growth in the Southeast.
"You're suffering a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, congestions, cough, sore throat, don't feel good," Chao explained. "When you look out at the car it looks like someone gave it a new paint job. Well that's the pollen that you see, but there's also pollen you can't see."
For some sufferers, Chao said warding off mild pollen allergies symptoms is as easy as taking an over-the-counter medication.
If symptoms become debilitating, Chao says you should see a physician to find out if there are prescription options. Closing windows and staying inside when pollen counts are highest, usually between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., might help too.
"If you're asthmatic, or if you have known problems with pollen, you might want to consider staying indoors, using filters and making sure that you take precautions," Chao told ABC11.
If symptoms last longer than usual or if you have developed a fever, you have an infection, or something more serious, Chao said that requires a doctor's attention.
