STOCKTON, Calif. — Angela Patello of Tracy has suffered from allergies for 13 years.
"Ears itched, eyes water, nose running," described Patello.
She was at Stockton's Allergy, Immunology & Asthma Medical Group for a scheduled regimen of allergy shots on Tuesday. Even so, she says the allergy season has been "pretty bad."
"Really, every year, when everything starts blooming, [my] allergies take off," said Patello.
Michael Balduzzi is a doctor at Stockton's Allergy, Immunology and Asthma Medical Group. He says lots of rain has actually kept pollen from being even more widespread than normal for this time of year.
"So, as it dries out a little bit, these pollens will dry and the wind is going to disperse them," Balduzzi explained.
While the excessive amount of rain has caused a bumper crop of weed, pollen and more, Balduzzi says this is only the beginning.
"The moisture is going to help the support of the plants, the trees and the grasses. We should expect a pretty strong growing season, I would imagine," added Balduzzi.
The gusty winds can also kick up dust in the form of tiny particulate matter that can trigger asthma attacks, bronchitis and more. In fact, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a cautionary health advisory affecting all of the San Joaquin Valley into Wednesday morning.
So-called "PM 10" or particulate matter the size of 10 microns or smaller can go air born where soils are potentially very dry.
So what should you do?
"Being careful, making sure that any of the particulate counts are lower when you're going to be spending more time outside, making sure that, especially as the days do heat up, that if you're going to focus on going out, going out when it is cooler," Balduzzi said.
As for allergies, he says to keep pollen at bay by closing windows and doors. And if you do take medication, take it ahead of time before the red eyes, sneezing and misery appear.
Continue the conversation with Kurt on Facebook.
________________________________________________________________