Humpday Health: Tips to help fight pollen allergy symptoms

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Spring has sprung and that means allergy season is here.

“We’ve had an early start to allergy season this year, so tree pollens have started early. Usually, they start in March and they started in February this year,” said Dr. Jeffrey Culp, an allergist at Wilmington Health.

Unseasonably warm weather in February meant early pollinations for trees in southeastern North Carolina, which means you may have already started feeling some of the symptoms of a pollen allergy.

“Pollen allergies usually affect where the pollen is being introduced into your body, so you get itchy, watery eyes or runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, post-nasal drainage,” Dr. Culp said.

Dr. Culp says it helps to have a plan in place before allergy season starts. But if you don’t, there a few things you can do to stop the symptoms.

“My approach for allergies is three things: try and avoid what you’re allergic to, which is pretty hard with pollen; medications, so over-the-counter antihistamines can be helpful or nasal steroid sprays, those can be helpful first line; after that, then I usually have the patients get tested if their symptoms are controlled and then I would consider starting them on allergy shots,” Dr. Culp said.

Dr. Culp says warm, dry, and windy days are the worst for those who are affected by pollen allergies.

Wilmington Health is especially busy with allergy patients between Easter and Mother’s Day.