Early spring brings early allergy season in Calgary

Some Calgarians may be feeling a little more miserable than usual for this time of year so if you are plagued by itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose right now, you're not alone.

That's because allergy season is setting in a bit early this year.

As she walks her puppy along the Bow River pathway, Erin Stephenson says the early spring is nice but it comes at a price.

"It's pretty nice, all the buds are out," Stephenson said.

And with the buds, allergies are not far behind.

"Sneezing every morning, lunchtime, dinnertime. It's like a ritual. It definitely seems to be coming in a bit earlier this year,"

• LISTEN |Allergy season comes early to Calgary

Dr. Joel Doctor is an allergy specialist in Calgary.

He says the trees are pollinating early and patients are showing up with hay fever symptoms about a month earlier than usual.

"If the conditions are quite dry and quite warm it's pretty predictable it will lead to a much stronger allergy season. So if this pattern of dry warm weather continues especially over the next two to three months, then you would expect that to lead to a much, much stronger allergy season," Doctor said.

He says the worst months for allergies in Calgary are June and July and they could be worse this yearwhen the grasses pollinate.

He recommends people treat their symptoms with antihistaminesbefore they get too miserable.

If that doesn't work, a trip to the doctor may be in order, he says.

• B.C. allergy season gets an early start, says doctor