This year’s spring allergy season may be the worst yet, or at least that’s what you may have heard. Every year is described as the worst for allergy sufferers, but are spring allergies really on the rise?
“Several factors, such as weather patterns, predict how intense the spring allergy season will be,” said allergist Michael Foggs, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
“With more people being affected by seasonal allergies, it may seem like every year is the worst yet for sufferers,” Dr. Foggs said. “But in reality, there may just be more people complaining about symptoms.”
Next, factors that influence the severity of the allergy season, along with some explanations of why more Americans are being diagnosed with allergies.
Although many allergy sufferers turn to over-the-counter medications for relief, it is recommended that those who believe they have allergies consult a board-certified allergist. An allergist can perform proper testing to accurately diagnose and treat sufferers, so the spring sneezing season doesn’t have to be bothersome.
“Over-the-counter medications may work for those with mild symptoms, but they can cause a variety of side effects, such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbances,” Dr. Foggs said. “For those with moderate to severe symptoms, treatment may go beyond antihistamines and include allergy shots.”
Source: www.acaai.org