SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With a healthy rainfall, wind, and rising temperatures in the Sacramento Valley, the pollen count is moderately high and allergy sufferers are likely feeling it.
Dr. Bradley E. Chipps is a pediatric pulmonologist and allergist with the Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center in Roseville, California. Chipps has been practicing medicine for nearly 40 years and says he even suffers from pollen allergies himself.
If you’ve noticed recent sneezing, itching, or coughing, doctors say you could be experiencing spring-related pollen allergies.
“Right now, it’s bad,” Chipps said. “There’s been so much rain, as I said a minute ago, that the pollen count is very, very high. And it’s gonna stay high for another six or eight weeks.”
The good news is there are quite a few things that you can do to take control, Chipps said. You may also consider these suggestions from the medical expert:
- Limiting yourself to outdoor exposure is the simplest and most affordable way
- Take frequent showers to wash pollen off your body and from your hair
- Kick on your air conditioning at home, instead of opening windows and further exposing yourself to allergens
- Try over-the-counter allergy medicines
- If conditions don’t improve, consider seeing a doctor for a treatment plan or shots
Chipps also mentioned that many folks believe local honey may be used as a method of alleviating allergy symptoms. But while it may taste good, using honey to clear up allergies is not a realistic expectation, he said.
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