BATON ROUGE — If you’ve been sneezing a little more or battling itchy watery eyes, you’re not alone. Allergy season is in full swing across the south, and here in the capital region.
If you look at any allergy trackers right now, tree and grass pollen are all in the “high” category, and are expected to stay that way for a while.
“Grass pollen usually peaks in the summer, but it can have some spikes earlier in the year if you’re experiencing warmer weather or rain,” said Hannah Jaffee, the research director for Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Baton Rouge has already seen a couple of days this month near 90 degrees.
Jaffee said Baton Rouge allergy sufferers aren’t alone.
“It’s a lot of places in the south, so it’s not just Baton Rouge or Louisiana. It’s bad in a lot of places,” Jaffee explained.
Allergies vs. cold symptoms
With allergy season here and the temperatures fluctuating, it can be hard to tell the difference between allergy and cold symptoms.
“There are a few key differences when it comes to symptoms of allergies versus other conditions like a flu or a cold,” Jaffee explained. “Allergies are going to have more of the itchy eyes, the runny nose, possibly some throat irritation, whereas cold is going to be more of the coughing and post nasal drip.”
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has a symptom chart on its website where you can see which category your symptoms fall under.
“You can check to see you what you’re experiencing,” Jaffee continued. “Is it more common with the allergies or other conditions like the flu, cold, covid, all those fun things that nobody really wants to deal with. It’s super helpful. I use it all the time with allergies, because it can be really hard to tell.”
Managing allergies
When it comes to managing and preventing your allergy symptoms, Jaffee said the first line of defense doesn’t come in pill form.
“If you know you are sensitive to pollen, the biggest piece of advice that I can give is to check those pollen counts daily,” she said. “These are available online, or even apps that can help you track pollen counts every day. With this information, you’ll know if pollen levels are high, and it can help you inform if you want to go outside that day.”
If you’re sensitive to pollen, Jaffee says there are steps you can take if you have to go outside to help you manage your exposure.
“Things like wearing a hat, sunglasses, a mask to help reduce pollen from getting into your eyes, nose and mouth,” she suggested. “Then, let’s say you’re out during the day on a high pollen day. When you come back home you can take really simple steps, like taking your shoes off before you enter your house, taking a shower at night so you’re not bringing that pollen into your bed with you. Those are really simple steps that can help reduce your exposure to pollen and help manage those symptoms.”
If you think you need to take an over-the-counter allergy medication to manage your symptoms, Jaffee suggests talking to your doctor first. You can also get a prescription.
“Work with your healthcare provider. Figure out what works for you and come up with a treatment plan to stay protected.”
Jaffee’s final takeaway for allergy sufferers as the season goes on: if you already take medication, take it early.
“You want to start taking your medicines at least two weeks before pollen season really starts. That’ll give the medicine enough time to block the histamine and other chemicals that might trigger those symptoms,” she explained.
“That being said, it’s not too late. The best day to start is today,” Jaffee continued. “If you are experiencing those symptoms and you have medicine that works for you, start taking it now.”
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