Allergy season getting longer in Calgary: study
The watery eyes, the sneezing, spring can be a cruel season for allergy sufferers.
What’s worse is new data from Aerobiology Research Laboratories shows allergy season in Calgary has increased by as much as 100 days over the last 11 years.
It’s because of rising average temperatures and an overall increase in highly allergenic pollen such as oak, cedar and birch having extended seasons.
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London Drugs Pharmacy Manager Agusia McGrath said the key is finding the right medication.
“That really depends on your symptoms, the severity of the symptoms, past responses to certain medications that you’ve had or used or tried, and any other medical conditions,” she said.
She said patients shouldn’t wait, they need to be proactive and start taking medication before the symptoms begin.
That will help prevent and manage reactions, because it can take a couple weeks for medications to become fully active.
“Some anti-allergy medications can increase your blood pressure so that’s why we always recommend patients come in and speak to their pharmacist to see, if they’re on a whole host of medications, to see if they’re compatible or not,” added McGrath.