0:00
I know it's only May 1st, but a lot of us are already feeling allergy overload
0:04
No doubt about it. Everyone's talking about it. And even if you don't normally get the stuffy nose, watery eyes, and scratchy throat this season
0:11
you may be running for the allergy aisle. Fox 5's Jessica Formoso takes a closer look at why we're getting pummeled by pollen
0:18
Honestly, this is the worst I've ever had it. Tamara of Long Beach is talking about her allergies
0:23
Like piles of tissues as I work. You can hear it in my voice even. And like, I work like remotely and I'm just like stashing this like pile of Kleenexes
0:32
Pollen has reached its peak and that is why folks with allergies are feeling it right about now
0:37
According to doctors, the spring from May till about mid-June is dominated by tree pollen
0:43
It thrives at different temperatures. It thrives in a different amount of sunlight early into the spring, going into April and May
0:51
And it's also very hardy. It can go for miles from a site. You can be in New York City and have pollen coming in from Jersey or Connecticut
0:58
And it's very dense. You see it covering the cars and the homes. Dr. Jonathan Fields is an allergist
1:03
He says this year's allergies are not the worst he's seen in his 20-year career
1:08
but definitely in the top five. We haven't had a lot of rain, and we've had milder temperatures
1:13
so it has all the makings. But definitely every year is different, and every person is different from year to year
1:19
Watery eyes, runny nose, itchy skin. Those are just some of the symptoms
1:26
Severe symptoms such as asthma, headaches, some people even develop migraines from their allergies
1:30
But the main things are head and neck, eyes and nose, and of course breathing
1:34
Dr. Field says avoid outdoors until later in the day as much as possible
1:39
Keep the windows closed, leave your shoes at the door, shower and change your clothes as soon as you get home
1:45
And of course, allergy medicine can also provide some relief. In Long Beach, I'm Jessica Formoso, Fox 5 News
