Fall allergy season underway

GAINESVILLE - If you've started sneezing and sniffling more than usual lately, you're not alone.

Dr. Mike Maloney with the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Northeast Georgia said it's been pretty busy at his office the past several weeks.

He said it's difficult to predict how bad pollen season will be, but he said the next few months could be rough.

"Fall is a bad time because of ragweed and the other weed pollens that come out late August, September, October... and they really stay out until we have a hard freeze," he said.

Maloney said even if the weather feels nice enough to open the windows in the house, don't do it. He said that will just bring those pesky allergens indoors.

He also recommends spraying saline solution into your nose after you've been outside to rinse the pollen out of your sinuses.

In addition, Maloney said many of the powerful allergy drugs are now sold over-the-counter, making them easy to get your hands on if you feel the effects of fall allergies.