Spring is here. But unfortunately, so is allergy season. And this year it might last a little longer than usual. A University of Rochester doctor breaks down exactly what that means and the precautions you can take to avoid it.

For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, they know that springtime means more than just warmer weather. It also means the start of pollen season, and that dreaded season for allergy sufferers is starting even earlier this year.

“This year you noticed we had a mild winter and it’s getting warm earlier and so we’re starting to see pollen sooner,” said Dr. Theresa Bingemann, who is an associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Rochester.

According to Bingemann, the last week of March is the usual kick-start for allergy season in New York, but this year may be a little different.

“Over the past few years it has been recognized that as climate change is occurring and the global temperatures getting warmer, pollen seasons are starting earlier, lasting longer and you’re seeing higher pollen counts,” Bingemann said.

She says that seasonal allergies are extremely common, with over 60 million Americans dealing with some form of seasonal allergies, whether it be from pollen in the spring, grass in the summertime or mold in the fall.

“So depending on what you’re sensitive to during that spectrum will dictate how long your season lasts,” she said. “But unfortunately for some people it starts now and goes to the first frost which might be November. In general, I can typically predict that within the first two weeks of the pollen coming out the number of phone calls we get go up substantially and people are starting to call and say, ‘I’m not feeling nearly as well as I was a few weeks ago.’”

She says that allergies may bring symptoms like a runny nose or cough, but the biggest factor is usually the itchiness

“Most of the time people say they want to rub their nose, they’re going to sneeze a lot, but you might see people [do] what we call the allergic salute because it’s so itchy.”

The good news, though, is that along with over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines, and nasal sprays, there are some basic things you can do to help lessen those symptoms 

“It can also help to shower at night, to get all the pollens off you before you bring that into your bed, sleep with the windows closed, use your air conditioning,” Bingemann said

Little things can go a long way during this long allergy season.