ATLANTA — The trees are green, the skies are blue, and everywhere else you look in North Georgia today: yellow. The pollen dust is everywhere.
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Walker Murray Klein says his nose is constantly running.
“You can see the yellow glaze on my car,” Klein said.
Channel 2 Action News caught up with Lesley Ortiz out on the northwest Beltline connector. She says her whole family feels symptoms in allergy seasons.
“Oh my gosh, the itchy eyes, we have a hard time sleeping at night,” Ortiz said.
But what helps?
Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer spoke with Dr. Erinn Gardner with Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, who says most patients can start with an oral antihistamine.
“Many people will start to see relief within a day or two,” Gardner said. “But it is important to take those medications daily when the pollen counts are increased.”
She says if symptoms are still irritating, consider adding a nasal spray.
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Gardner says allergy testing can lead to more targeted treatments.
“If you’re taking those two medications and you still have an issue, I typically recommend seeing a board-certified allergist,” Gardner said.
If itchy, irritated eyes are the issue, Gardner suggests something that was once only available by prescription: antihistamine eye drops. You can find them in the allergy aisle of pharmacies and stores.
Doctors also recommend when you are coming inside, try to keep the pollen outside.
Close the windows, run the air conditioner, and take a shower before bedtime to wash off the day’s pollen.
Ortiz says her family knows to take their shoes off as soon as they come in the door. This year, she started her allergy regimen earlier, in February.
“I do my nasal spray and Zyrtec at night before bed, and that’s helped all of us a lot,” Ortiz said.
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Tomorrow, Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer speaks with an allergy doctor. Have questions? Leave them in the post above.
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