A Sneezing Season
by Rob Martin, KFYR TV
Posted on 4/20/2010
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If you`re prone to allergies you`re probably sneezing up a storm this year. Doctors say it`s shaping up to be one of the worst springs we`ve seen in a while, at least as far as allergies go.
Your immune system functions to protect you, but in some cases it works too good and you end up with allergies.
The weather can affect these in many different ways. To start, rain can act like a filter.
“Have heavy rain up to about one and a half inches in some areas. That kind of rain acts to filter the air and really clears it out,” said Joshua Scheck, National Weather Service.
But conversely, rain can help create situations for mold allergies. Another surprising weather related allergy phenomena is related to thunderstorms.
“Thunderstorms and asthma flair up with a thunderstorm because of all the these pollens, especially grass pollen,” said allergy specialist Dr. Arkapol Piyamahunt, with the Heart & Lung Clinic.
Thunderstorms create increased allergen levels near the ground and can disperse it over greater distances. And it is not uncommon for hospitals to see an increased number of allergy patients after thunderstorms.
Some allergy symptoms are similar to the common cold like a runny nose, sneezing or even a little cough. But to make the distinction, colds generally do not cause itching, and fevers are not symptoms of allergies.