Ah-choo! Seattle-area allergy season in full swing

If you’ve got itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing these days, you’re far from alone. The Seattle area is mired in what many are calling one of the worst allergy seasons in recent years.

Grass and weed pollens are on the increase, according to the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center, with the highest grass pollen counts occurring on warm days between mid-June through mid-July.

“When you get a nice rain here and there and then all of a sudden we get dry weather, the dry weather and particularly the wind can pick up the pollen and make people more symptomatic,” says allergist Dr. David Naimi with Northwest Asthma and Allergy.

Naimi says he’s seeing plenty of patients in his clinic right now complaining of classic allergy symptoms. It’s understandable, with the local grass pollen count currently at what’s considered high levels, which means most individuals with any sensitivity will experience symptoms.

“Grasses can be just as allergenic as any other pollen. Our body essentially recognizes these small pieces of pollen as being foreign and we just essentially attack it,” sparking allergic reactions.

There are plenty of prescription and over-the-counter remedies to help combat the symptoms. Benadryl and generic equivalents remain among the most popular. But Naimi cautions many antihistamines can cause drowsiness and other reactions, and encourages people to consult with their doctor or allergist to determine which medication is best for them.

Naimi says for the most sensitive, some preventative measures can help combat allergens. He advises keeping windows closed at night, and driving with windows up and the air conditioning or recycled air function turned on in your car to reduce exposure to pollen. He says with pollen peaking between 5-10 a.m., some patients might want to minimize early morning activity when pollen is usually at its highest.

“It’s hard to live in a bubble,” he says. “You might not want to mow the lawn or be around any freshly cut grass for at least an hour because mowing itself stirs up pollen and can stir up molds as well.”

There are no shortage of naturopathic remedies available as well, from herbs to bee pollen. But Naimi says there are not good studies validating their effectiveness, and most are not regulated by the FDA.

“But saline spray or a neti pot – if done correctly – are a good non-medicinal solution,” he says.

Unfortunately, nothing works perfectly, Naimi admits. For those suffering, grass pollen season will continue until around the end of July.

“So we’ve got another month or so,” he says.