High pollen counts trigger early allergy season in Spokane

SPOKANE — Many people are already struggling with their seasonal allergy symptoms like itchy eyes and runny nose, but reducing those symptoms could be as easy as taking a shower after you’ve been outside to wash off all of the pollen.

The pollen count is already high in Riverfront Park and throughout Spokane. Many people are already taking Claritin or Zyrtec to help with their allergies.

MultiCare says there are several more things you can do to help manage your allergy symptoms this spring.

Dealing with seasonal allergies can be difficult, especially with how dry the weather is in Spokane right now.

“I just make sure I’ve got Kleenex with me so I can evacuate. I make sure I have some Zyrtec or some kind of allergy medicine handy,” said George Jackson, who has seasonal allergies.

But doctors say there’s more you can do outside of taking medicine.

Dr. Sarah D’Hulst from MultiCare says it can be as simple as closing your windows at night to keep pollen out of your home.

“I think it’s important, especially for little kids who roll around in the grasses and who are climbing trees and things, do a nightly bath,” said Dr. D’Hulst, medical care director at MultiCare Rockwood Primary. “When you get home, wash all that pollen off so you’re not rolling around in your bed and sleeping in it all night.”

Dr. D’Hulst says allergy season can be especially difficult for people with asthma, so working with your doctor to find ways to treat your asthma and allergies at the same time can be helpful.

She says there are also changes you can make in your diet that can help reduce your allergy symptoms.

“There is some evidence out there that certain probiotics can help us and those can be supplements or they can be things in yogurt and miso,” Dr. D’Hulst said.

If you’re wondering if you’re experiencing allergy symptoms or if you have a virus, Dr. D’Hulst says having a fever is usually not an allergy symptom. Though she says they’re seeing fewer flu and RSV cases this time of year.

MultiCare says the wind in Spokane tends to mix all of the different pollens together, so checking the pollen count may not always be an accurate measure of which pollen is causing your allergy symptoms.