Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:54 PM
Updated: Feb 8, 2012 3:03 AM
TUCSON - Spring hasn't sprung yet, but allergens have. Doctors say a mild winter has lead to an earlier allergy season.
"Itchy eyes, sinus pressure, congestion," said Megan Jirele, an allergy sufferer in Tucson. "When it's windy outside I get really symptomatic, blow my nose a lot. I get a lot of sinus infections if I don't take care of it."
Dr. David Friedman says allergies are here already due to a warm December and the fact that weeds bloomed early this year, but spring rains will determine how bad allergies become. "And it might mean less severity in April and May if the weeds don't get a drink," said Friedman.
It all depends on how dry the desert becomes. Doctors say we simply can't predict the future, but good news, a early allergy season doesn't automatically equal a bad allergy season.
"If you're golfing 3 times a week, you're going to have more symptoms than someone's who's golfing twice a year," said Friedman.
Doctors say the best advice is to avoid allergens altogether, easier said than done. There are new medications on the horizon, but they are not FDA-approved yet. There are also over-the-counter medications and allergy shots that may be prescribed to you through a specialist.
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