With the warmer days, people are starting to notice allergy symptoms sneaking up on them, and doctors say allergy season is getting longer.
“This is definitely about the time of year when we start to see the allergens come out in our area,” said Dr. Erin Reigh with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.Sign up for our Newsletters
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New England doctors say allergy seasons vary from year to year, but the trends are getting longer.
“We are seeing global trends with allergy seasons getting longer because we think of global warming as a factor,” Reigh said. “One of the ones that have been best studied is ragweed, which tends to be more of a fall allergen. But we’re seeing that ragweed start season is starting sooner and lasting longer in a lot of places.”
Allergy seasons aren’t just getting longer, they’re getting more intense. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said, compared to 1990, there’s now 21% more pollen.
If you’re a sufferer, doctors said to start allergy medication earlier, ideally about a month before the season begins.
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There are now new options to treat the symptoms.
Reigh said there are three sublingual tablets, meaning you put them under your tongue.
She said they’ve recently been approved by the FDA.
“It’s definitely a good option for people who have those allergies. It can save them the trip of having to come to the clinic and get the injections,” Reigh said.
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If you’re in a city like Manchester, you might notice your symptoms are worse because all the pavement and buildings can make it warmer than elsewhere.
If you’re suffering and have recurring symptoms, Reigh suggests reaching out to an allergist who can help.
