Allergy season at full force

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-If it seems as if everyone is suffering from spring allergies, it might be because many people are.

Allergists say pollen is in full force in a state that consistently ranks as one of the worst places for allergies.

Pollen is everywhere. Just ask landscaper Barbara Hilpp.

“When we blow off, it’s like you’re blowing yellow dust everywhere,” Hilpp said.

It’s been hard to keep the trucks clean.

“You’ll see a yellow film come off. It’s pretty gross,” Landscaping Manager Zach Rosen said.

That’s one reason Hilpp’s company, Miss Mow It All, is getting a lot of calls right now.

“I’ve talked to a few people on the phone that definitely are saying the allergies are getting to them and they’re calling us for services for that reason,” Hilpp said.

She says her crews are tough, but even landscapers struggle with allergies.

“I’m dealing with some allergies right now. It just happens to everybody and you gotta fight through it and medicate. Lots of Dayquil and histamines,” Rosen said.

You don’t have to fight through it alone, though. At Family Allergy and Asthma Dr. Rajiv Arora says you don’t have to suffer so much. You can get a test that uses a tiny pin prick to figure out what’s bothering you.

“We have little plastic toothpicks dipped in the different allergens we’re concerned about and they go up and down the back, quick pokes in. We do it in all ages, even little ones,” Arora said.

From there, Arora says he can help treat allergy sufferers using shots, medication, or avoidance tactics. Patient Le Ty Le is getting her first shot.

“After I hope maybe, you know, shot can help me then I’ll feel better. I don’t like to be like that all the time, you know?” Le said.

Dr. Arora says pollen started showing up early this year, but it was late getting to full force. It can keep people home from work, and make it hard for kids to concentrate in school. Arora says in Kentucky, every year is a bad one for allergies.

“There’s a lot more pollen here than in many other places in the country so it’s very common to have people move here and experience allergies for the first time,” Arora said.

Don’t think you have to tough it out, though, just to live in the beautiful bluegrass. Arora says see a doctor; they’ll help separate the suffering from the spring.