Collegiate Times

Faculty, staff and students with allergies may have noticed a change in the air ? and not a change for the better. Ragweed season has started two weeks earlier than expected this year.

Each ragweed plant releases up to a billion particles of air-borne pollen, and the premature start only means higher pollen counts and longer exposure for those who are allergic.

The middle of September is normally the peak of ragweed season, affecting the 75 percent of the population in the United States who suffer from fall allergies. However, due to the recent climate conditions, the plants are pollinating early this year.

?The early season is mainly due to the weather patterns in the area,? allergist Kristina Kwak of Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southwest Virginia, Inc., said. ?We had a warm summer with lots of rain, so it?s good conditions for ragweed.?

Typically, pollen allergies cause nasal irritation, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and a runny nose. Ragweed, in particular, bothers mainly the eyes and the nose.

?I can always tell when allergy season starts because my eyes are itchy and always full of water. I try to purchase eye drops and use them regularly,? said sophomore mathematics major Natalie Madeja.

To alleviate symptoms, Kwak suggests keeping windows and doors closed to protect your indoor environment, including car windows while driving. She also said after being outside, wash hands, face or even take a shower to rid your body of the pollen. If the symptoms persist, seek over-the-counter relief or even schedule an appointment with your local allergist.

It often takes a week or more for symptoms from ragweed to localize and develop, so if you know you suffer from pollen-related allergies, consult your physician and begin taking medication to prepare your immune system as early as possible, she said.