The weather throughout the United States this winter has been erratic, to say the least. Certain parts of the country have experienced record-low temperatures one day, only to have the thermometer increase by 40 degrees the next. While the extremely cold weather has posed a serious safety concern, OzarksFirst.com reports that it may be having a negative effect on allergy sufferers, too.
According to the source, local residents have been dealing with particularly severe symptoms over the past few weeks, which may have something to do with allergy season starting early this year due to the uncharacteristic weather. Experts say it's a mix of a few different triggers.
"I think it's been so bitter cold. People have been locked up in their houses, they've been catching viruses from each other. They're exposed to animals they choose to live with. Yeah, it's bad," Dr. Greg Lux, an allergist at Mercy Hospital, said in an interview with the news outlet. "Then when it gets warm, if you have a mold allergy, you're going to be sicker because of it. So it's a combination of factors."
So, what can Americans do to combat debilitating symptoms? Your best bet is to make an appointment with an allergy specialist to make sure you actually have allergies and begin taking any necessary medications. Then, there are other changes you can make to increase your quality of life, such as investing in allergy control products like an allergen air purifier and hypoallergenic bedding. Check out the Allergy Be Gone website today to learn more.
