Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat, irritability. And you can't even blame a politician.
According to the Five-Day Pollen Allergy Forecast for Little Rock (at pollen.com), Thursday and Friday will introduce the greatest amount of misery-causing allergens into the atmosphere of central Arkansas. Even people without seasonal allergies can experience reactions because there is such a large quantity of fine, powdery airborne irritant, mostly coming from pine and oak trees, floating around.
According to the website livescience.com, colds and allergies share symptoms of sneezing, runny nose and congestion. Colds usually come with coughing and a sore throat. Itchy eyes are more likely with seasonal allergies. Colds tend to occur in the winter, and take several days to show up after exposure to a virus. Seasonal allergy symptoms occur immediately after exposure to pollen. Colds last three to 14 days. Allergy symptoms stick around as long as the pollen or other allergen causing them is in play. Allergies seldom cause body aches. Colds do.
How to fight back against pollen: Resist the temptation to air out the house and car on gorgeous sunny days; keep windows and doors closed. Rinse your face and hands after spending time outdoors. Avoid lounging around outside on warm, windy days. Rain, although sometimes chill-inducing and ill-timed, comes in handy in clearing pollen from the air.
Allergy experts recommend taking antihistamines in combination with nasal sprays to help with congestion. Might as well stock up; they'll probably be needed for the rest of the month.
Not to ruin the day or anything, but tree pollen will soon give way to grass pollen that will stick around through, oh, June or so. Then, in the fall, there's the arrival of ragweed and its weedy pals--all loaded with pollen, and spoiling for a fight. Strength.
Editorial on 03/20/2018