As pollen coats the Scenic City, Chattanooga allergist shares tips for allergy relief

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Flowers are in full bloom this spring, and with that change of season comes pollen.

For those with seasonal allergies, you may find yourself constantly reaching for the tissues.

But a Chattanooga allergist tells us there are ways to keep irritants like pollen at bay.

According to the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic’s website, the pollen count was high on Friday, especially for tree pollen.

That pollen count for Chattanooga has primarily been in the “high to very high” range for the last 14 days.

“The allergies are so, so bad. Your eyes keep tearing up. It’s almost as if you’re crying, but you’re not.”

For 30 years, Mary Booth and her husband Joel have dealt with that spring time pollen.

“Yeah, it’s been beautiful. But the pollen is so thick, so it’s bad for most folks.”

Although, Mary says she’s learned ways to cope.

According to the Chattanooga Allergy Clinic, one a scale where 100 is the worst, Chattanooga landed a spring score of nearly 84.

That means those with allergies are likely having a rough time.

Doctor Taylor Atchley, an allergist at the Allergy-Asthma group of Galen, says there’s relief out there.

“I just want to let people know you don’t have to suffer through this time. If you’re bothered by this thing, come see us. It’s usually very much worth a visit.”

We wanted to see what an allergy test looks like, so our cameraman volunteered.

The test starts with a light skin prick test, which exposes your body to small amounts of allergens.

The doctor then monitors your reaction to see if you have an allergy, which usually takes around 15 minutes.

“That’s where our allergy testing can help, right? Because if you’re allergic to trees, well, we can help by saying, ‘hey, this is going to be a springtime allergy for you. Why don’t you start these medications up in late February.’ That way they’re on board and in your system when the tree pollens come out,” Atchley says.

Doctor Atchley says the important thing is to test for allergens before the pollen comes around.

“Some of our medications actually take three or four weeks to kick in, and some of them work fast. And so that’s something to learn when you come and see us. Which ones do I need to go ahead and start taking now to be ready for pollen season?”

According to the Mayo Clinic, some ways to see allergy relief include:

• Seeing an allergist
• Reducing exposure to known allergens
• Keeping indoor air clean with a dehumidifier
• Trying OTC medication
• Doing a nasal rinse