Cold Snap Helps Allergy Patients

     Dr. Todd Levin say, "We have tree pollen allergies. Trees are blooming. The yellow stuff is on the cars."
     It's springtime again, and that has many people reaching for the tissues.
     Dr. Levin says, "People are having itchy watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, stuff running down the back of their throat. Pollen can also make asthma worse."
     Patients keep Allergist Doctor Todd Levin very busy this time of year, despite the weather changes.
     Dr. Levin says, "The cold weather we are having now is going to help people. It's gonna help people that have tree pollen allergies because it's going to decrease the pollen in the air, the rain washes it away, but long term it's probably going to have little effect. The trees will recover the pollen will return."
     Dr. Levin says it's difficult to tell the difference between a cold and allergies, but allergies usually come with itching and clear drainage.
     He says over the counter medicines like Claritin or Zyrtec help some people.
     He recommends getting tested to see what you are allergic to.
     He says it helps predict when you will need treatment and what kind to use.
     When over the counter drugs don't work, allergy therapy could be a permanent solution.
     Dr. Levin says, "Allergy shots retrain the immune system to ignore the things in the environment that cause trouble. They induce tolerance."
     Dr. Levin also says many people experience non allergic hayfever with a runny nose, congestion, itching, and drainage caused by barometric pressures changes and other irritants.
     In Chattanooga, Mandy Odom, WDEF News 12.
     Dr. Levin says if you need over the counter medicine for more than a couple of weeks a year, it's time to go see a specialist.