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Wheeling ear, nose and throat allergist Dr. Jeremy Tiu examines a patient. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING — Area residents with allergies may have noticed their runny noses, itchy eyes and coughs are worse than in years past. There’s a reason for that, according to Wheeling Ears, Nose and Throat Allergist Dr. Jeremy Tiu.

With temperatures warming up earlier in the Ohio Valley this year, trees and grasses have begun producing pollen earlier. This has created not only more pollen in the air but also two different pollen types circulating at the same time.

“The warmer it is year-round, the more pollen you’re going to have,” explained Tiu. “If you look at trends for pollen in the Ohio Valley, in years past if it’s been warmer, there’s going to be more pollen and also more people suffering from allergies.”

According to Tiu, trees typically begin producing pollen in late February and continue until May. Grasses begin producing pollen in May and continue until August. Weeds begin pollinating in August until the first frost typically occurs in November.

“The trees have a little bit more time to pollinate and aggravate those that are allergic,” Tiu explained. “About right now, too, is when the grass starts to pollinate as well, so people who have both tree and grass allergies have a really hard time when the two seasons overlap.”

As symptoms worsen for those with tree and grass allergies due to increased pollen levels, Tiu added that nationally, more people are being diagnosed with allergies than in years past. He explained that people cleaning their living spaces more often has led to weakened immune systems that are more sensitive to allergens.

“In countries that are not as clean as we are today, you’re dealing with more microbes that challenge your immune system and make your body fight off those types of parasites and other bacteria more often,” explained Tiu. “As we continue to be very clean and sterile versus other parts of the world, our allergy diagnosis continues to go up. This has become noticeable in other developed countries as well.”

Tiu added that there is “a little bit of a genetic component” to more allergy diagnoses since an increased amount of parents with allergies has increased the chances of children inheriting allergies.

According to Tiu, those who are allergic to multiple things will experience worse symptoms this year. This means those allergic to pollen and other allergens such as dust mites or animal dander will experience a “bigger allergic load” on their bodies this season.

“There’s a threshold that some people with allergies reach that they may be okay with a small amount of what they’re allergic to,” noted Tiu. “As soon as you get bombarded from all sides from things you are allergic to, then you reach a critical mass that spills over into really bad symptoms. This will peak in pollen season for people with multiple allergies because there is a bigger allergic load on their body.”

While most are familiar with common allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a sore throat, and clogged ears, allergies may lead to more severe symptoms. Tiu explained that they can cause asthma, hives, rashes and eczema.

Allergies can also cause chronic eosinophilic esophagitis. This occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens, producing a large number of white blood cells that collect in the esophagus, which can result in swallowing problems.

The first defense Tiu recommends to prevent common and more severe allergy symptoms is staying indoors.

“I know it doesn’t sound attractive, but if spring and summer allergy seasons provoke you, the first thing you can do is stay indoors,” said Tiu. “Being inside and closing the windows helps you stay away from the air and wind that drifts these pollen particles towards you.”

Tiu added that those with allergies should avoid being outside early in the morning, as the wind can spread more allergens through the air. For those who want to spend time outside, Tiu explained going outside after it has rained is the best option, as precipitation decreases pollen levels.

After being outside, Tiu added that one should shower and change into fresh clothes indoors to eliminate lingering pollen particles. Another step for prevention is washing one’s sheets “at least once a week.”

For medicinal treatment of allergies, Tiu recommends using over-the-counter allergy medications such as Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra. He added nasal sprays such as Flonase can help decrease swelling.

Another allergy treatment Tiu finds beneficial is nasal saline irrigation, which involves using a neti-pot to rinse out pollen from one’s nose.

“People forget that your nose is a filter with all those pollen particles in there,” explained Tiu. “Rinsing your nose out in addition to washing off your body and hair will help to reduce the amount of pollen that your immune system is exposed to.”

For additional information on how to manage allergy symptoms and check pollen levels, Tiu recommends visiting pollen.com or consulting the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology at aaaai.org.