As Seen in Fort Myers News-Press: Watery eyes? Sneezing? Welcome to pollen season
While many people focus on Valentine’s Day and spring-like weather of February, allergy sufferers are concerned with the increasing allergens in the air. In Florida, pollen season begins in February for trees, grasses and weeds.
“With the relatively warm temperatures of Florida, allergy-causing plants are growing earlier and quicker than anywhere else in the country,” says Imtiaz Ahmad, M.D., Board Certified physician and founder of Allergy Sleep & Lung Care. “Much of Florida’s allergens are constantly moving through the air due to sea winds from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.”
Allergy sufferers may notice the effects of pollen including watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing and itchy throat.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends several steps to coping with allergens during the beginning of pollen season:
- Avoid being outdoors from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. when pollen levels are highest.
- If you are planting new grass, trees or flowers, make sure the species does not aggravate allergies.
- Keep car and house windows closed to avoid pollen exposure.