CARY, N.C. – The first official day of spring arrived last weekend, meaning allergy season is here.
No one knows it better than John Sullivan of Wake County. He has dealt with allergies his whole life.
"When I was probably five or six, I did those shot tests to figure out what you were allergic to and it was everything," he says.
He says he has been slightly less bothered by his allergies this go around.
Leading allergists confirm this year’s season is similar to last year’s.
"Pollens in North Carolina tend to start coming out end of February, beginning of March and that tends to be our tree pollens which are the most during that time during the spring,” says Dr. Sofija Volertas of the UNC Division of Rheumatology Allergy & Immunology.
Staying indoors between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when pollens tend to come out the most and making sure to wipe down a pet that has been outside are all ways to keep pollen and other allergens at bay.
“Once you start bringing those pollens inside after you have been outdoors, they can wreak havoc on the inside of your home too,” Dr. Volertas says.
As for Sullivan, nothing is going to keep him from going outside and playing the sport he loves which is lacrosse.
“I love the outdoors, I’ve always been very active and coaching is just one of those extra ways to get out there, allergies or not," he says.