{"id":113013,"date":"2023-03-29T13:31:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T20:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=113013"},"modified":"2023-03-29T13:31:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T20:31:23","slug":"op-ed-allergy-season-is-here-with-a-vengeance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2023\/03\/29\/op-ed-allergy-season-is-here-with-a-vengeance\/","title":{"rendered":"Op-ed: Allergy season is here with a vengeance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Terry Kanakri<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For many people, as spring arrived on Monday, March 20, it brought feelings of renewal, new beginnings, budding leaves, blooming flowers, and \u2013 yes \u2013 those dreadful allergies.<\/p>\n

Except for this year, experts say allergy season actually arrived earlier than expected and will only intensify. That\u2019s primarily due to the wet, rainy weather Southern California is experiencing, resulting in more vegetation and consequently \u2013 more pollen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt appears that more people are already struggling with their allergies,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Salima Thobani, an allergy, asthma and immunology physician with\u00a0Kaiser Permanente Southern California. \u201cThings are likely to get worse before they get better, mainly due to the weather conditions we\u2019ve experienced that have resulted in more pollen in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies each year. Additionally, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.<\/p>\n

With the arrival of spring, Dr. Thobani noted allergies are likely to increase as the weather gets warmer and drier. That\u2019s because trees, grasses and weeds will release tiny grains into the air to fertilize other plants, and as we breathe them in, those who have allergies are likely to suffer, she explained.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Thobani, symptoms of seasonal allergies include:<\/p>\n