ALLERGIES

Maintaining a clean house can go a long way in keeping your allergies in check, but how you clean can make them worse.

Sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose— these are the tell-tale signs that you may be experiencing seasonal allergies.

If you have seasonal allergies, you know that they have not been kind lately in the San Antonio area. But, how do you know when it’s allergies or another illness?

The Omicron variant and its subvariants have symptoms that mimic allergy symptoms. That leaves people wondering if they have allergies or COVID-19. An infectious disease expert explained some differences.

As the region’s allergy season peaks, doctors are warning recovering COVID-19 patients to be aware of possible triggers brought on by spring allergens.

Asthma is the third-leading cause of hospitalization among those under the age of 15. The condition causes the airways to constrict and can be life-threatening if not properly managed. If a child with asthma also has allergies, it’s a double whammy. Now, there’s personalized care for patients with these complex cases.

Oak trees pollinate in March and early April

Oak trees pollinate in March and early April

The timing couldn’t be worse. COVID-19 cases are surging in the middle of mountain cedar season, causing doubts for some who may have seasonal allergies.

Dreaded “cedar fever” makes its return to South Central Texas

More than 50 million people experience allergies

Doctors with Tufts Medical Center say since people have been wearing masks more, overall they've seen patients reporting fewer seasonal allergy issues.

Here’s what you need to know when it comes to spring allergies and COVID-19.

Oak trees pollinate in late March and early April

Whether you suffer because of tree pollen, ragweed, or indoor dust, chances are you’re coughing, sneezing, or sniffling. With COVID-19 still around, any sign of illness, such as a lingering cough, is nothing to sneeze at. But if your eyes, nose, and throat are itchy and you’re sneezing, it’s more likely allergies. AdTo destroy things like pet dander, dust mites, and pollen, wash your bedding in hot water that’s at least 120 degrees. Move your shower time to bedtime to wash off pollen that’s collected on your hair and skin so you don’t go to sleep with allergens.

Have you ever heard someone say that your heart stops for a moment every time you sneeze?

The students’ parents will be urged to seek medical advice, she said. It will be up to the physician to recommend testing for COVID-19, or clear the student to return to school with a note from the doctor. The dilemma that school nurses will likely face is because “COVID and allergies can really mimic each other,” said Dr. Kirk Waibel, a board certified allergist with Aspire Allergy and Asthma. “Even the CDC has listed things like nasal congestion and cough as potential COVID symptoms but they’re, of course, also allergy symptoms,” Waibel said. Dye said school nurses are a phone call or email away if parents need them.

Saharan dust & COVID-19 in San AntonioPublished: June 18, 2020, 6:42 pmWhat to watch out for when the Saharan dust blows into San Antonio

"It’s some of the worst allergies that we see in the year are right around now, particularly in San Antonio.”A cough, breathing troubles or a runny nose are all symptoms that someone can experience with allergies or COVID-19. However, if you are also experiencing fever, body aches and chills, Silvers said that it could be COVID-19. They may be feeling short of breath, having a cough at this point, but they typically won’t have muscle aches that we see with COVID-19." Silvers recommends allergy sufferers start with over-the-counter medications right away, like Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra and take them consistently. COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

With sinus and allergy season in full swing, the coronavirus pandemic is causing more hesitation for allergy sufferers who would normally go to a doctor or hospital for treatment. “Sinus and allergy season is here,” Beven said. Some foods to consumeAntioxidants help shield cells from oxidative stress. Bioflavonoids enhance the action of Vitamin C and supports blood circulation, which can aid in fighting allergies, viruses or arthritis. These help keep the gut healthy, which is important since 80% of immunity resides in the gut.

It’s that time of year for sneezing, sniffling, and watery eyes. In some cases, symptoms like sneezing and a stuffy nose are caused by something called nonallergic rhinitis. Symptoms often resemble those associated with allergies, like congestion, a runny nose, and sneezing, but without itchy eyes and a sore throat. If you're not sure if it’s an allergy or nonallergic rhinitis, head to a doctor for an allergy test. If nonallergic rhinitis is the culprit, an allergist can suggest ways to help you find relief.

Coronavirus and flu symptoms tend to be more systemic. Coronavirus and flu symptoms can put you out of commission. Coronavirus and acute flu symptoms could get worse over time. If you have a nasty case of the flu or coronavirus, you may get worse when you expect to get better. Early symptoms of allergies, cold, flu and coronavirus could be similar.

To help you prevent getting a cold or sinus infection, here are some tips to avoid getting sick. If you experience severe sinus pain, you may have sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the sinus lining that prevents normal mucus drainage through the nose, according to the American Sinus Institute. “Balloon sinuplasty is a very minimally invasive procedure that we perform on our patients who suffer chronic sinus issues,” said Katrina Zedan, a physician assistant at the American Sinus Institute. “It just allows the sinus to drain and allows people to breathe normally.”Take this quiz here to see if you could have a sinus infection. “I did the balloon sinuplasty, and it was absolutely painless," said William Weekley, a patient at the American Sinus Institute.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – An unwelcome annual post-holiday guest is making many San Antonians feel miserable. “Cedar fever” has returned, causing people to reach for the tissues, and some even heading to their allergists for treatment. Cedar fever has San Antonians reaching for the tissues (KSAT 12 News)“The typical runny nose, sneezing, congested, along with irritated, itchy eyes,” said Dr. Ted Freeman, describing the symptoms he has been seeing lately at his San Antonio Asthma and Allergy Clinic. Unlike the flu, cedar fever actually does not produce fever in its sufferers. “Unless you want to leave the San Antonio area from January through February or March, it's really going to be hard to avoid mountain cedar,” Freeman said.

No matter how you feel it, many of us are battling through mountain cedar season -- which runs from December through February every year. Technically, mountain cedar trees aren’t cedar trees at all! Mountain "cedar" trees are actually ashe juniper trees. (KSAT 12)How to treat a mountain cedar allergyBecause everyone reacts differently to a mountain cedar allergy, most allergists suggest using many different treatments. For a nifty video explaining mountain cedar pollen that you can share with your friends, check out Kaiti Blake’s explanation below:

KSAT Weather: Mountain Cedar ExplainedPublished: January 3, 2020, 9:43 pmKaiti Blake explains where mountain cedar comes from and why it can be so bad this time of year.

There has been an increase in pollen levels each year, making spring allergies an even bigger problem for millions of Americans. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Holly Phillips discusses why that happens, and how you can treat annoying allergies.