Syracuse Ranks 3rd Most Chal­lenging for Spring Allergies

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The air is warmer, daylight is lasting longer and trees and plants are beginning to bud.

While many can't wait for these signs of spring, for some the season brings suffering, especially in Central New York.

With pollen and mold spores abundant, spring allergies are a big concern, but not everyone experiences them the same.  

Staci Toia's oldest daughter has been sneezing and taking Benadryl over the past few weeks while Camillus resident Cynthia Thomas says her worst time came at the end of last year.

"So far the spring has been okay, but because of the extended winter I had really bad allergies until after Christmas," Thomas said.

"It's been worse because the weather's been better," Toia said.

Recent swings in outdoor tempreatures have hit people with symptoms, but experts say they're not necessarily due to allergies.

"Your making an antibody against something and that antibody has an immunopathogenic consequence," said Dr. Michael Sheehand, Clinical Allergist and Immunoligist. "It causes a mucosal inflammation. Thats an allergy. That's not the only thing that can bother the nose."

Doctor Sheehan does not buy into the hype of each year being the worst year ever.  With spring temperatures yet to stabilize he says this year's outcome is unpredictable.  But after experiencing El Nino this year, next year's outcome might be more certain.

"If we do have spring earlier I think it's going to be an issue where patients are going to be symptomatic earlier now," Sheehan said. "But I think the real repercussions of that come the following year when these buds that have had more time to form open up."

Allergies may be worrisome and uncomfortable, but doctors and those experiencing symptoms have tips that might help.

"Keep the windows closed," Sheehan said. "I mean people who are pollen sensitive shouldn't sleep with the windows open. 

"This year I spoke with my ENT and he encouraged me to get a dehumidifier for my house," Thomas said. "So so far that seems to be reducing the allergens a lot.  So we'll see what spring holds."

Hoping that all sorts of precautions can ease the discomfort of an unknown season ahead and what could be a hard year in 2017.