Central Texans are experiencing allergy symptoms due to ragweed being at its peak during this time of the year.
Allergy & Asthma Center of Waco Allergist Dr. N.J. Amar and two other allergists see 100 patients daily. The main symptoms they have been complaining about include sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes or coughing.
"It's mostly a quality of life. It's like you have an infection all the time. You feel tired you can't focus. You can't sleep you get headaches,” Amar said.
Shirley Tucker who is Amar’s employee and patient said this time of the year dealing with allergies is not easy.
"This is my worst season. It really gets me down. I get watery eyes. I'm here today because I have a headache and feeling really bad,” Tucker said.
In order to deal with the symptoms, Amar recommends taking allergy pills as the first step and using nasal sprays as the second step. He said the third option would be to get tested for allergies, which sometimes would require allergy shots that prevent allergies from coming back.
Tucker is one of the patients who gets injections at the Allergy & Asthma Center of Waco. At that facility, 300 allergy shots are given every day.
"When it gets worse, I'm on shots but I probably need a little booster every once in a while,” Tucker said.
According to Amar, patients are asked to get more shots when allergies are bad. In addition, he recommends for people to change some of their habits during this time of the year.
"They have to try to spend more time indoors, don't open doors or windows and if they have any animals in the house that makes it worse,” Amar said.
He added for those who are working in the yard, to put a mask and after they are done to take a shower and put clothes in the washer.
Amar anticipates that ragweed season may last after Thanksgiving.
"It's not much higher than last year but because of the rain and the warmer weather, my feeling is that is going to continue longer,” Amar said.
After the end of November, cedar is usually at its peak, which could be an issue if ragweed is still present and people are allergic to both.
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