HIGH POINT – Dr. Leigh Schwietz from the Allergy and Asthma Center of North Carolina says her office is beginning to see a steady flow of chronic snifflers and sneezers.
"It's impressive, it's like epidemic allergy actually," she said.
She referring to an epidemic the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says North Carolina is home to. In its annual study, Greensboro was named the worst city in the nation for fall allergies. Raleigh was also in the top 10, coming in fourth. Charlotte came in as the 20th most challenging city to live in.
"You know you just wake up in the morning and your head's all clogged up and itchy eyes," described allergy sufferer Lance Malaney.
During spring and fall, Malaney says he constantly fights pollen and ragweed misery, which the study also says is usually found in high concentrations this time of year.
News 14’s Jonathan Lowe has more on the allergy woes of some North Carolina cities.
"Yeah, I like when it turns winter time cause my allergies go away," Malaney added.
But Schwietz adds that our area is covered with trees that put off a high amount of pollen, causing the itchy, swollen eyes as well as congestion and tightness of the chest.
"We see dozens of patients who really can't function," Schwietz said.
Doctors say what really makes the fall allergy season bad is that leaves begin to fall and decompose, creating mold -- and when you combine that with the pollen already in the air, allergy sufferers can feel like the have a really bad cold.
And for the worst patients, over-the-counter drugs often don't work, leaving doctors to turn to steroids and allergy shots. But they say even those aren't a quick solution to relief.
"Certainly that will be very helpful but it'll be more helpful for the next allergy season," Schwietz said.
For more on the latest allergy forecast, be sure to check out News 14 Carolina’s Weather on the Ones.