Allergy sufferers greet spring with relief and dread. While they bask in saying farewell to winter, they brace for the unseen enemy of warmer weather – the onslaught of pollen from everything abloom.
If you’re one of the people who feels like the misery – the sneezing and wheezing, the itchy eyes and runny nose – comes on stronger and lasts longer every spring, you’re not alone or wrong, according to allergists, who are seeing more patients file in each year seeking relief from their worsening symptoms.
In the following Q&A, William Anderson, MD, associate professor of pediatrics-allergy/immunology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, explains how climate change contributes to higher pollen counts, how a triple-whammy of allergy seasons confronts Coloradans, and ways to get relief from symptoms. He also talks about when to consider getting allergy shots – and the commitment they entail.