KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — East Tennessee has seen some warm and dry weather recently, and a local allergist warned it could lead to a longer fall allergy season.
Karthik Krishnan, an allergist with a medical center that has clinics in the Southeast, said the conditions are ideal for plants to pollinate which could trigger allergies across the community. He said ragweed is one of the most common plants that triggers allergies in East Tennessee. He also said common symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, congestion and swollen eyes.
He warned that allergies could cause feelings of fatigue among some people. He also said people could avoid spending large amounts of time outdoors, run air conditioning and keep windows up to help avoid feeling symptoms.
"Pollen seasons typically end with the first hard frost, and that can be anywhere from the end of October to early November. And with temperatures being a little bit warmer than we have in the past, some experts are saying that the pollen season's going to be a little bit more intense and longer," he said.
People can take an allergy test at a medical facility to see if they may be reacting to pollination, or to anything else. Krishnan said patients can also take medicines like antihistamines for severe allergies. If they don't work, he said people should see a doctor.
