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Why you shouldn't wait to treat your allergies

Recent studies reveal Sacramento, Modesto and Stockton are all in the top 100 most challenging places to live with spring allergies.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — March 20, 2019, is officially the first day of Spring, but many of us have already been feeling the runny nose and watering eyes that come with spring allergies. 

Even though the next couple of days will be rainy and pollen counts will go down and you'll feel allergy symptoms less than normal, that doesn’t mean you should stop taking allergy medications.

In fact, allergists say it's important you continue taking medicine, even through the rain.

Allergy season in the greater Sacramento area usually starts in March and goes through June, but we typically see fall allergies, too. Recent studies conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America show Sacramento, Modesto and Stockton are all in the top 100 most challenging places to live with spring allergies. Modesto was in the top 40 locations — ranked 39th — while Stockton and Sacramento landed in the 65th and 80th spots, respectively. 

Dr. Marc Ikeda, chief of allergy at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, said tree and grass pollen allergies cause a lot of our problems.

Symptoms and Medications

The main symptoms of allergies are the itchy, watery eyes and nose, which can lead to sneezing. Ikeda said the nasal drainage and post-nasal drip can also lead to coughing.

Ikeda recommends getting tested to determine what exactly you're allergic to. Taking over-the-counter allergy medicine can be the most effective way to combat allergies. However, he says, getting ahead of the game can be helpful, especially with the sprays, because they take a couple of weeks to work effectively. 

”It takes a couple of weeks of consistent use before you get the benefit, that’s why starting before the peak allergy season can be helpful,” Ikeda said. Bottom line, don’t wait until May, Sacramento’s peak allergy season, to start taking medications.

There’s also things you can do in and around your home that can help with allergy prevention. Ikeda said keeping the doors and windows closed, taking showers in the evening, using the air conditioning, and not wearing shoes around the house. 

"Those are the kind of things so you can keep the outside outside and the inside relatively allergy-free,” Ikeda said.

The most common question people in Northern California ask about allergies is “If I've never had allergies, am I in the clear?” The short answer is no.

Ikeda says allergies can occur at any time, regardless if you have or haven't had them in the past. 

If you grew up in a place like Sacramento, Stockton or Modesto where people are prone to allergies, you are less likely, as an adult, to develop them. However, it is still possible. 

Many people who move to Sacramento, Modesto or Stockton from the Bay Area develop allergies quickly when they arrive. On the other hand, newcomers from further away may not see allergy symptoms for two years because it takes the body a few cycles before developing sensitivities to the pollen.

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