Drought may be causing fall allergies to start early this year

CLEVELAND — Shiv Love’s been playing trombone since the 5^th grade, and he hopes to do it for a lifetime.

“I would just like to play in a big orchestra and teach at a college,” said Love, a second-year master’s student.

But staying on top of his game means being able to hear and breathe properly.

When fall allergies hit, he said it sounds like he’s underwater — not a good thing for a musician.

The traditional ragweed, pollen season in northeast Ohio region usually starts Aug. 15 and lasts until the frost begins.

“Other thing that’s in the air would be mold, as the leaves fall down. That’s what happens as they degrade, mold spores are released,” said Dr. Nancy Wasserbauer Kingston, an allergist and immunologist with University Hospitals.

The recent drought is causing leaves to fall early, which may be leading to some having symptoms earlier this year.

Wasserbauer Kingston said the best way to be prepared for allergies is to find out what you’re allergic to.

“Before you go out to the pharmacy and buy all the allergy remedies that are on the market, best to know what your allergens are so you can first and foremost avoid them. And then use targeted daily therapy and avoidance measures,” Wasserbauer Kingston said.

She said testing for allergies is more comfortable than it used to be.

“So, it feels like a little push on the skin and creates just a tiny, tiny little prick on the skin. If you’re allergic, it’s going to feel like a mosquito bite. It doesn’t include a whole lot of blood or anything like that. People get worried about that,” she said.

Wasserbauer Kingston recommends keeping the windows closed, washing your face and hands after being outside and using an app to monitor pollen.