Allergies Giving Oklahomans Fits This Spring

Allergies are going haywire for a lot of folks right now, and one doctor says the weather may be to blame.

While it may be the prime season to be outdoors-- it's also time for spring allergies.

Roxanne Borntreger suffers from occasional seasonal allergies, but recently, she suffered one of the worst allergy attacks she's ever had.

“I went to the Jenks herbal market yesterday and I was looking at herbs, vegetables, trees and flowers, and just had a wonderful time,” she said. “And I was there for about 4 or 5 hours, but by the end of the day I was miserable. I was hurting and full of allergies and I couldn't talk; I couldn't breathe."

Dr. James Love of the Tulsa Allergy Clinic said if your symptoms are getting worse, you may be allergic to certain kinds of irritants.

"Well right now, today, pollen and mold are very high and the different types of pollen that you see are trees at this time of year and grasses,” Love said.

Rain could be a contributing factor as well, he said.

With lots of moisture around, fungi tend to release more spores into the air and cause some to have a serious reaction.

Another problem, especially in Oklahoma, is mold.

"The mold is around all the time,” Love said. “It reaches a peak in the wet, warm weather, which we're obviously having now. …It happens more in June and October, but it's around all the time in Oklahoma as are most of the pollens."

Borntreger said she typically uses an over-the-counter decongestant and some nasal spray to relieve her symptoms, two things the Allergy Clinic recommends.

“I'm from the East Coast originally, and I never had allergies until I came here."

Love said always check with a doctor before taking medication.

Some allergy medications actually may have a negative effect on conditions like high blood pressure and some may not be giving you the right type of relief.

Love said if your symptoms are severe and trigger asthma-like reactions or aren't manageable with over- the-counter treatments, make sure you see a doctor.