Spring allergy season in full bloom in Metro Vancouver
Posted March 8, 2022 3:56 pm.
Last Updated March 8, 2022 9:35 pm.
It’s the time of year that people allergic to pollen, grass, and weeds dread. Spring allergy season is here in Metro Vancouver, causing many people to sneeze, sniffle, and get itchy eyes.
Dr. Joanne Yeung, a paediatric allergist in Vancouver, says one of the easiest things to do is reduce your exposure to pollen by staying indoors and keeping windows closed. But for those who can’t avoid the outdoors, she says the simplest form of treatment is an over-the-counter, 24-hour non-sedating antihistamine.
“Daily dosing actually works better than waiting until the symptoms are really bad,” Yeung explained.
“A lot of people feel like they want to avoid medication and save it until they feel their worst. But at that point, it’s already too late because you’re just trying to bring things down as opposed to preventing the symptoms.”
Related: High pollen levels to blame for worse allergy season, experts say
About 25 per cent of adults and 20 per cent of kids suffer from spring allergies, according to Yeung.
She says people who are lucky enough to be allergic to only tree pollen — which is starting to affect people right now — can expect their allergies to peak in March and April, then start to come down towards June.
Those who are allergic to multiple pollens may deal with four to six months of allergies, lasting until summer.
