KTRV Fox 12 Allergy Season Comes to Boise
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Boise, Idaho -- The peak of the Treasure Valley's allergy season is about to hit.
Tiny white and pink blooms are beginning to appear, flowers are opening and trees are starting to leaf, but for some residents, the beauty comes with a price -- dust and pollen allergies.
"Yeah, it's a lot of pain and pressure here," said Jerry Wagner, an allergy sufferer.
"I will start sneezing, burning on my skin, my face and itching and scratching," said another sufferer.
In early spring some residents suffer a bit from Cottonwood and Juniper pollens, but allergy issues become even more of a concern as the weather warms up.
"Of course in Boise the biggest seasons we have when people are really miserable are grass season, which is usually May to June, usually going away by the end of just or first of July," said John Jeppson, MD, with the Boise Valley Asthma and Allergy Clinic.
The Treasure Valley's other big allergy season hits in late summer when the weeds and sagebrush take over.
Not to worry though, doctors have some advice to beat the sneezing and congestion.
"One of the best things they can do is if they have a nasal steroid such as Flonaise or Rhinocort any of those meds. If they start them and use them consistently during their season that often prevents a lot of the problems," said Wagner.
Antihistamine and eye drops can also be helpful, along with behavioral changes.
"Environmentally speaking, if you're allergic to pollens it's a good idea to keep your windows closed," said Wagner.
Keeping the outside air out can limit pollen exposure. And if you must go outdoors, some times of the day are better than others.
"If you're a runner, pollination tends to peak in early morning, so if you can run in the evening instead of the morning there's less exposure there as well," said Wagner.
If nothing seems to work, doctors say nearly 80 to 90 percent of severe allergy suffers can find relief by getting allergy shots.
Residents can check the valley's daily pollen count by visiting the Boise Valley Asthma and Allergy Clinic's website at http://www.bvaac.com/
