ALLERGIES

The first official day of spring is roughly 2 weeks away but that hasn’t stopped seasonal allergies. With our pollen count on the rise, you’ve most likely reached for a tissue this week or rubbed your eyes.

It’s the perfect time of year to be outside, but with that comes itchy eyes and sneezing as pollen accumulates on your skin and clothes. Over the weekend, pollen levels jumped as high as 10.2, and they sat at 10.4 on Monday. News4Jax spoke with immunologist Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, about several ways to combat allergies. Joshi said pollen is at its worst in the morning and around sunset. “Thick pollen coating everything outside "“Zyrtec d daily,” said Theresa Maria Garcia.

Since we’re spending more time indoors, it’s important to eliminate as many allergens inside as possible. These tasks around your home will also help eliminate pollen inside:Dust weekly. “Those are little critters that hide inside of our mattress and our pillows and our box spring,” Joshi said. In Northeast Florida, the most common allergens during the spring tree pollen months is oak. “Oak trees pollinate during the tree pollen season which is in the spring, so from right around now all the way through Mother’s Day, roughly,” Joshi said.

Have you ever heard someone say that your heart stops for a moment every time you sneeze?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This time last year, allergy season was in full swing. Dr. Sunil Joshi, an allergist at Family Allergy and Asthma Consultants, says the continuous cold weather will definitely push the start of allergy season back. With allergy season starting later, it will make the total season shorter. “Our tree pollen season typically ends by around Mother’s Day, or certainly by the end of May. Not to mention it’s important to know the difference between allergies and symptoms of the coronavirus.

Sandra Hong, MD, an allergist at Cleveland Clinic, said managing allergy and asthma symptoms is especially important this year because they often mimic those of COVID-19. When it comes to asthma, its always a good idea to make sure asthma symptoms are well controlled as we approach cold and flu season, to avoid respiratory complications. If your child is attending school in person, she recommends providing the school with an asthma action plan and emergency inhalers. Parents should also be sure asthma control medicines are working properly. Dr. Hong said its safe for kids with asthma and allergies to wear a mask at school, and that having symptoms under control will make wearing a mask more tolerable

With sinus and allergy season in full swing, the coronavirus pandemic is causing more hesitation for allergy sufferers who would normally go to a doctor or hospital for treatment. “Sinus and allergy season is here,” Beven said. Some foods to consumeAntioxidants help shield cells from oxidative stress. Bioflavonoids enhance the action of Vitamin C and supports blood circulation, which can aid in fighting allergies, viruses or arthritis. These help keep the gut healthy, which is important since 80% of immunity resides in the gut.

Some doctors are questioning whether nasal sprays and nasal rinses are the best treatment for season allergy sufferers right now due to coronavirus concerns. Lately, the pollen count has been high throughout Northeast Florida, and those who suffer from allergies are likely feeling the effects. But while many people have been dealing with allergies, the new coronavirus has been declared a pandemic. Walker said allergy doctors would normally associate that symptom with allergies or sinus inflammation. RELATED | How to tell the difference between symptoms of allergies & COVID-19And while doctors often prescribe over-the-counter antihistamines to control nasal allergy symptoms, Walker said that they are now more hesitant about prescribing nasal sprays and saline rinses based on new medical reports out of France and Italy.

And with the current COVID-19 outbreak, it’s important to know the difference between allergies and symptoms of the virus. “Of course right now everyone’s...thinking that something else might be going on, so that’s what’s making people even more concerned about it,” Dr. Joshi said. Seasonal allergies and symptoms of COVID-19 do have a few similarities, especially for asthma patients. “If you’re stuck inside your house and you’re worried about your seasonal allergies while inside your house, keep the windows closed,” Dr. Joshi said. Most importantly, those with seasonal allergies should keep up with medication that manages the symptoms.

The recent warm stretch this month brought along an unwelcome guest: pollen. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

Robert Sanford, who knows all about the pesky allergen as the nursery manager at Liberty Landscape Supply, told News4Jax that pine trees are producing the pollen right now. Pollen season usually doesn’t arrive until February, so now more people who suffer from allergies will suffer even longer. "They’re terrible and I’m itching my eyes all the time and that’s one of the things about the pollen.”So while pine trees are currently producing pollen, next on the list are cedar trees, which will produce pollen up until spring. The bad news: Trees normally produce pollen through April, so this is just the beginning. After cedar and pine trees, the hot summer months bring grass pollen.

There has been an increase in pollen levels each year, making spring allergies an even bigger problem for millions of Americans. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Holly Phillips discusses why that happens, and how you can treat annoying allergies.