Allergies Move In With Nice Weather

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - With nice weather, you don't really want to avoid the outdoors but what's floating around in the air is sending plenty of people to the doctors.

Sharon Dodson is sick of it, allergies so bad for this teacher that her eyes swell up.

"My students will be like, 'What's wrong Mrs. Dodson?" she said. "It's not you, it's my allergies, promise," Dodson tells her students.

Dr. Bradley Chipps diagnosed her with allergies four years ago.

"I'm a dust, mold, pollen girl, so that's what my allergy shot is," said Dodson. "I come in every 2-4 weeks."

She gets a shot, takes allergy medications, and waits for the weather to bring it on.

In the Sacramento Valley, there's really no escaping the tree and grass pollen. This year is unique because it started off warm. The pollen came with the blooms, and then it disappeared with late April rain. Now, everything is growing again and the wind keeps stirring it all up.

The best way to prevent allergies is to keep the pollen out. You can start by shutting your windows and constantly vacuum to get rid of all the dust. Stay away from carpet if you're allergy prone, hardwood floors or tile might help. Finally, shower before you go to bed, just to get any pollen off.

You can even shower your sinuses with a neti pot.

Elliott's Natural Foods suggest this sweet alternative to regular medications. They say having local honey could get your body used to the local pollens.

However, Dodson swears by the shot.

"I start to cough, oh time to get shot. Then, I'm good to go," said Dodson.