Allergy Season Off To (Another) Early Start

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — “March Madness has already arrived,” Dr. Sanjay Khiani announces.

The founder of Family Allergy Asthma & Sinus isn’t talking about the upcoming basketball tournament – he’s talking about allergy season.

And this year, pollen is going to make a deep run.

“With warmer winters, we’re actually seeing earlier springs, but also, we’re seeing a longer pollen season. It used to be spring allergies would start in March and go through May, but now we’re seeing pollen sensitivities as early as mid-February,” Khiani adds.

“So, we’re seeing longer seasons as well as higher pollen counts. The pollen counts are getting higher year after year.”

Dr. Khiani says to start your usual regimen if you haven’t already – eyedrops, nasal sprays, and antihistamines are all key – but it all starts with minimizing exposure.

“Any time you open your windows, you’re driving the pollen from the outside to the inside. Whether it’s your home or your car, you’ll want to keep those windows closed, first of all.”

Unfortunately, man’s best friend can also be your sinuses’ worst enemy.

“That pollen grain gets on us, but also on our pets. So, bringing your dog from outside to inside spreads the pollen. So, it may be that you’re not allergic to your dog, but actually it’s the spring pollen on your dog.”

Doing outdoor activities later in the day and washing yourself and your clothes afterwards are also crucial to keep from sneezin’ this season. And don’t forget to drink water.

“Hydration is great. It’s great, especially right now, because when you drink and get well-hydrated, you’re also thinning mucus as well.”

The rain and colder air associated with Wednesday’s system will help flush out pollen for now, but expect allergies to worsen as we head into spring. March and April are the windiest two months of the year in the Carolinas, which can also help spread pollen. Grains can fly up to a mile away from the source according to Dr. Khiani.

For more information on allergies and how to keep them at bay, visit Dr. Khiani’s blog HERE.