KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Are you surrounded by a growing chorus of sneezing and wheezing? Nose and eyes feeling a little itchy? If so, things are only going to get worse as the spring blossoms... blossom.
Knoxville is ranked consistently in the top 30 cities for severe allergies most years, according to the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center in Knoxville.
If you are wondering why, just look around you at the landscape. Birch, poplar, and cedar trees grow far and wide, and the vast wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains is home to more than 1,600 different species of flowering plants.
All that is to say: Knoxville is chock full of pollen when spring rolls around. The "true" start of spring is hard to predict in East Tennessee because of our "five little winters," so allergy seasons are equally hard to predict. A frosty early spring can make all the difference.
"Here in East Tennessee, it depends on Mother Nature. If we get another hard frost, it can push it off, but it's really dependent on what she does, unfortunately," Sarah Bachor, a physician assistant with Summit Medical Group, said.
So, what can allergy sufferers do this time of year besides taking a daily allergy pill and keeping eyedrops with them? Bachor said a sinus saline rinse can help alleviate nasal symptoms. Other than that -- wash your hair and hands if you spend a lot of time outside.
Washing your bed sheets and pillowcases more often during spring can also help reduce nighttime symptoms. And if you have pets -- make sure you are bathing them regularly.