Why it matters: Spring allergies are in full swing. Here's what to know and how to combat the seasonal sniffles.
Threat level: Houston's tree pollen count alternated between heavy and extremely heavy over the last few weeks, according to the Houston Health Department's daily counts.
Weed pollen, grass pollen and mold spores are also in the mix.
The latest: Rainfall, like what we saw over the weekend and is forecast this week, could provide temporary relief for allergy sufferers by dampening pesky tree pollen that's accumulated, Baylor College of Medicine allergist Dr. David Corry says.
Yes, but: "The downside of the rain is that it will make mold start growing again," Corry says.
"Rain also makes weeds and grass grow, and everything that can pollenate grows, exacerbating allergies," he writes.
The intrigue: Corry says if your daily over-the-counter antihistamine isn't cutting it, you could ask your doctor about upping the dose.
"If you are outdoors doing yard work, wear an N95 mask or another comfortable mask that has filtering ability to prevent pollen from getting into your nose," Corry says for an added measure. "Wear goggles that exclude outside air from getting in the eyes."
The bottom line: Corry says on bad allergy days, it's best to stay indoors and know what can trigger you.
You can check the latest pollen and mold counts on the Houston Health Department's website.
