Allergy season to ramp up as summer approaches
Posted June 3, 2018 8:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’ve found yourself sneezing often lately, you may be one of the thousands of people around these parts dealing with allergies.
As the summer quickly approaches, the biggest trigger for a lot of people right now is grass pollen, and not all the cottonwood that’s flying around.
Issues with grass tend to peak around this time, and Vancouver allergist Dr. Joanne Yeung adds your allergens may change month to month.
“If your allergies start in March, maybe even February, you’re allergic to tree pollen. And that extends into the early summer. If your allergy starts in May and June and the worst of it is right now, then that’s grass pollen.”
It is possible to be allergic to both.
Yeung adds about 90 per cent of people have seasonal allergies, but those who have especially severe symptoms may need to think about targeted treatment.
“Like immunotherapy. Giving your body low doses of your allergen to build up your tolerance against it. One of the ways that you can give it is through a series of injections, and it’s still very much a treatment option that helps a lot of people right now.”
Yeung explains the best way to prevent symptoms is to avoid going out too much.
But if you do want to be out and about, it’s best to take an antihistamine — just check with your pharmacist first to make sure it won’t make you drowsy.
