Is it too soon for seasonal allergies? We asked an expert

Have you had some suspicious sniffles lately? A little sore throat?

A cold, COVID or allergies could be the culprit.

Dr. Niladri Aichbhaumik, from St. Paul Allergy and Asthma, told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer that in the last month or so, he’s had an uptick in patients asking whether it’s seasonal allergies or an infection upsetting their body.

That’s in part because of similar symptoms — runny nose, stuffy nose, drainage in the back of the throat, itchy or watery eyes and sneezing, to name a few.

“There’s usually some more questions we'll need to ask to try to tease out what could it be,” Aichbhaumik said. “Right now, the problem has been mold,” which until Wednesday was exacerbated by the lack of snow. “It's still a little bit too early and too cold for the tree pollen to be a problem.”

That comes around early April. However, the pollen season is getting longer due to climate change.

“There’s been lots of good data over the last probably 10 to 15 years showing that, because of higher CO2 levels in the atmosphere, the pollen seasons are starting earlier and then also ending later,” Aichbhaumik explained. The increase in CO2 has also led to plants putting out higher levels of pollen. This is all growing progressively worse year over year.

Antihistamines can offer some fast-acting relief, Aichbhaumik said, and can be taken safely on an as-needed basis. This time of year, that might align with the freeze-thaw cycle.

When it warms up, doctors recommend keeping windows shut during active pollen seasons. If you’re sensitive, Aichbhaumik advised wearing a mask while doing spring yard work and cleanup.

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