Ragweed Pollen Alert Issued

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The season has changed, but don't put those tissues and eye drops away just yet. The Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic issued another ``very high'' alert for ragweed

Wednesday, September 26th 2007, 6:05 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The season has changed, but don't put those tissues and eye drops away just yet. The Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic issued another ``very high'' alert for ragweed pollen Tuesday, despite rainfall across parts of the state.

The clinic issued the alert in part to encourage people to start taking medications to combat seasonal allergic rhinitis, or ``hay fever.''

Sufferers can take nasal steroids, antihistamines or rinse their nasal passages with saline. Experts say the latter is inexpensive, and it breaks the inflammatory cycle, rinses out pollens, and soothes dry and irritated mucous membranes.

Tuesday's alert was the third one so far this fall ragweed season.

Officials say the ragweed season ends at the first freeze, which usually doesn't happen until late November or early December.

To learn more about allergies and what causes them visit the Weather and Your Health section in the Advanced Weather section of kotv.com.