The weather has certainly been erratic lately in the southeastern part of the United States. Georgia experienced an uncharacteristically bad snowstorm just a couple weeks ago, and then earlier this week the temperatures reached the seventies. According to WJBF.com, an Augusta news outlet, the pollen count skyrocketed from one to 224 during this time period, causing people in the Augusta area to begin suffering the effects of spring allergies earlier in the year than usual.
The source reports that Augusta residents get hit particularly hard by spring allergies each year due to the city's location, climate, industrial pollution and abundance of trees. The recent snowstorm knocked tree branches down throughout the city, and this debris — in addition to the fluctuating temperatures — is exacerbating allergy symptoms.
So, what can folks in Georgia do to keep their allergy symptoms under control this spring?
"If somebody has allergies, they need to be seen by a physician to undergo a complete work-up. There are special allergy tests, and there are special blood tests that we check allergies for," Dr. Michael Behnia, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Doctor's Hospital, said in an interview with the source. "The sooner you start [treatment] before it gets worse, the better off you will be."
In addition to seeing a doctor and getting on any medications that are prescribed to you, there are certain steps you can take to reduce your exposure to allergens. At Allergy Be Gone, we sell hypoallergenic bedding and an allergen air purifier. Combined, these products can make an immediate difference in your quality of life.
