JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Early spring may sound nice, but that means seasonal allergies come sooner and last longer.
Irram Hamdani, a pulmonologist at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, said that from February to May, those in Northeast Florida may be uncomfortable with allergies.
“Peak starts in the morning, peaks midday,” Dr. Hamdani referring to pollen in the air. “If you’re an outdoor person, try not to go midday, try to go later in the evening or before the sunrise, to minimize your exposure to pollen.”
Dr. Hamdani said refraining from opening windows while at home may be a good idea to prevent allergies.
“I know we all like fresh air, especially this time of the year, but that’s when you were inviting all the pollen in the house,” Hamdani said.
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But for those who do choose to open the windows, an option is to have an air purifier or filters for their home.
Also, Hamdani said it’s important to be aware of four-legged friends.
“If you have pets, like outdoor pets and they’re coming in, you have to be very careful in terms of pollen, because pollen loves the furry animals,” Hamdani said.
Some other ways people can protect themselves is by wearing a mask if they are out during the day, going out before the sunrise or at sunset and even wearing glasses while outside during mid-day.
“If that doesn’t work, then you can use over-the-counter antihistamine, sometimes, corticosteroids nasal spray can help to reduce the symptoms. And if all else fails and you’re still suffering, then you really need to seek medical attention,” Hamdani said.
For those worried about the pollen, Hamdani said people can watch the pollen count like they do the weather and plan days around that.
