Fall allergy season hitting the Mid-South harder and earlier than usual
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – If you’ve been sniffling, sneezing, or waking up feeling like you’ve caught a cold, you’re not alone. Doctors say fall allergy season has exploded across the Mid-South, and it’s hitting harder and earlier than usual this year.
Local experts say ragweed and mold spores are the main culprits behind the surge in symptoms. And with the region’s mild, dry fall weather, many allergy sufferers are finding little relief.
Memphis resident David Burgess said he’s felt it all season. “My nose is running now. I’ve been affected my whole life,” he said.
Another allergy sufferer, Mark Selzer, told FOX13 his symptoms have gotten bad enough to need medication. “Congestion, cough, drainage… I just came from the doctor to get my prescription now,” he said.
Dr. Dale Criner, chief medical officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital, said ragweed and mold spores are running wild right now, and the sneezing isn’t stopping anytime soon.
“Fall doesn’t just bring cooler weather, it brings a lot of sneezing,” Criner said. “We have beautiful foliage around and a lot of agricultural areas where they’re cutting crops. That dust gets in the air.”
Criner said allergy season typically lasts through Thanksgiving.
Pharmacist Jana Stader with Baptist Medical Group said she’s seeing plenty of people coming in for relief, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to find it.
“Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, or their equivalent generics are just fine and save you some money,” Stader said.
She said antihistamines help with sneezing and itchy eyes, while decongestants can clear up nasal stuffiness. But she warns some medications, like Benadryl, can cause drowsiness, so they’re best avoided during the workday.
Doctors also recommend simple steps like rinsing your sinuses with saline, keeping windows closed, and changing air filters regularly
Criner said staying indoors on high-pollen days can help too.
“Try to reduce the amount of time you’re outside whenever you know you’re going to have flare-ups and haven’t taken your medicine,” he said.
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