SAN ANGELO, Texas — When Spring arrives, allergy season follows behind.
There are multiple allergy seasons that happen in West Texas year round, causing people to have the sniffles or even sneeze when going outside.
“Right now, my nose is all stuffy, and then my eyes are watering. I love being outside, but the wind blowing am with my allergies. My eyes just start pouring with water,” San Angelo native Pansy Waller explained.
Shannon Clinic’s Dr. David Huchton said the plants that grow in West Texas play a large role in the average person dealing with allergies.
“It's not the greenest place in the world, but the things that grow here are very allergenic and they are their seasons,” Huchton said.
He also mentioned this time of year in particular is usually dry and windy. It's the perfect time for trees and plants to begin pollinating.
Luckily, Huchton said most people can tame their allergies using over-the-counter medications such as Claritin, Zyrtec and some (not all) nasal sprays.
Another tip to combat allergies is to wear a mask. Wearing these masks can limit exposure to allergens in the air.
But a big question is: Is there a way to decipher whether you have COVID-19 or if you just have allergies?
Huchton said there is and it starts with knowing your symptoms.
"Allergies and generally symptoms are going to be itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, some parts, nasal drainage, congestion, but not really associated with fever. Usually a headache isn't a big part of an allergy. The congestion is uncomfortable, but it's not usually causing a real powerful headache. Allergies can cause coughing, but it's usually not very productive. So I think the main distinguishing symptom is fever and just feeling lousy that that'd be more viral versus the other symptoms,” Huchton said.
Right now, Shannon Health is working on creating allergy drops for those dealing with severe allergies.