Pollen season is arriving in North Alabama, bringing discomfort for allergy sufferers. Dr. John Stewart from the Breathe Better Institute offers remedies.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Spring is nearly here, and with it comes the return of pollen season across North Alabama.
Dr. John Stewart with the Breathe Better Institute says trees and shrubs are already beginning to bud, signaling the start of what can be a miserable stretch for allergy sufferers.
“Pollen is definitely on the march right now,” Dr. Stewart said. “Your nasal membranes do not like that bombardment — just as much as sinus and cold and recurring infections can cause inflammation of your sinuses, pollen and allergies do the very same thing.”
FOX54 Weather Impact Meteorologist Emily Owen says the worst of pollen season typically runs from late March through April, with a secondary wave in the fall.
“We actually do have fall pollen, believe it or not, but it’s just not as prominent as spring pollen,” Owen said.
For those with chronic sinus issues tied to seasonal allergies, Stewart recommends a procedure that uses a small, flexible instrument with a balloon tip to dilate blocked sinus passages — expanding the opening up to ten times its normal size.
He also cautions against reaching for over-the-counter decongestants, warning they can actually worsen congestion over time for patients with ongoing sinus problems.
