Pollen could still cover Midlands, even after Rain

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Spring is still more than a week away, but Pollen has already started to cover the Midlands. “We’re usually in the pollen by now, but this year it really started about the middle of February so, this has been the earliest I’ve seen it,” says Dr. Doug Markham of the Allergy Partners of the Midlands. Dr. Markham says along with Pollen comes the usual symptoms. “Itchy watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sinus congestion pressure, headaches,” says Dr. Markham. But if you are suffering there are things you can do. Those include, keeping the windows of your home and car, closed. Also, when it comes to outdoor activities make sure to wash your clothes immediately when finished. “Crandall Sims reporting, “Of course there are also over-the-counter medications that Allergists say do help alleviate the symptoms, those include Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra.” If that’s not enough, you can take a deeper approach. “There are a variety of prescription nasal sprays, that people’s doctors can prescribe and then allergen-immune therapy help, because it’s the only thing that will desensitize people to allergies and in a lot of people make it go away,” says Dr. Markham. But Dr. Markham says the important thing is to work on the problem now before we start feeling the affects of oak near April. “Pollen is what you see, but Oak causes more misery,” says Dr. Markham. People are already suffering quite a bit from Pollen. “It’s interfering with people’s work, already kids are missing school and things are only going to get worst before they get better,” says Dr. Markham.