With the onset of spring comes seasonal allergies and this year could be a very long season.

For those who suffer from hay fever, it spells many weeks of sniffing, sneezing, watery eyes and post nasal drainage. Physician Dr. Peter Boggs says the allergy season started early due to record breaking warmth in February. But there is still a lot of pollen to go around.

"We'll transit into trees and grasses and then we'll end up the season into late May and June with just grasses and pollen predominantly."

There are differences between colds and allergies. Boggs says if you are wondering if it’s a cold or if it’s allergies, there’s an easy way to find out.

"The allergy symptoms tend to persist.  And they respond nicely to medications for allergies, where has the colds are kind of hard to treat ."

 

For allergy sufferers, there are some treatments that can help that don’t involve over the counter medicine. Boggs says he has treated many patients successfully with immunotherapy, but it involves a shot and visiting your doctor. Boggs says there are treatments you can do yourself.

"You mix up the same type of material that you might put in the allergy shots, but you can actually let the patient take the drops and take them at home."

 

More From Highway 98.9