"Because the pollen counts have gotten so high, so early, people are starting to have more symptoms," says Dr. Stanley Fineman, allergist.
Turns out, it's not just the people who are enjoying this unseasonably warm weather, the trees are enjoying it too, kicking off an early pollen season.
Right now, cedar and maple trees are major contributors to the high pollen count.
Dr. Stanley Fineman says medical studies are showing that generally warmer trends coupled with an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air are the reasons for a longer and more miserable allergy season. "The seasons are longer. The pollen is more potent and there's more of it. So it can really be a problem for patients with allergies."
This year, like every year, the atlanta allergy clinic is recording the daily concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.
But this year, the clinic is updating the way it charts the pollen.
Assigning a value of "low," "moderate," "high," and "extremely high" description to different levels of pollen.
In previous years, any count higher than 125 particles of pollen was considered "extremely high."
Now that threshold has been lifted significantly to 1500 particles per cubic meter of air. "So we can directly compare our pollen counts that we get here in atlanta to other pollen counts in other areas of the country."
Dr. Fineman also worries that the early onset of pollen season could end up being a one/two punch for allergy sufferers.
If a cooling trend causes a decrease in the amount of pollen in the air for an extended period of time, symptoms could be even worse when the pollen returns. "You become sensitized to it. So when you're sensitized and not re-exposed, you can get an even more violent allergic reaction."
Dr. Fineman says some over the counter allergy medications can be effective for minor allergy sufferers. But, if you are one of those folks who suffers from severe symptoms you may need to see an allergist.
