This winter was one of the coldest on record, but spring allergy season is already beginning and it’s time for sufferers to start preparing now. An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, which are commonly called hay fever. Symptoms include itchy eyes, nose and throat; sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; tearing or dark circles under the eyes.
“Even with snow still on the ground, trees have started budding and are the first to produce pollen, creating major problems for people with allergies,” said David Rosenstreich, M.D., chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical Center. “The symptoms people experience often resemble a common cold, but, if it happens every year at this time, it’s most likely to be allergies.”
