'Wait and see': Experts say it's too soon to say how severe this allergy season will be in Alberta
As the snow melts on the ground, allergy season is beginning in Alberta.
Parts of Canada are seeing soaring levels of pollen, but according to one allergist and professor of medicine, it's too early to tell how bad it will be in Alberta.
"Allergy season in Alberta usually starts as soon as the snow melts because of the moulds that accumulate under the snow," Dr. Harissios Vliagoftis of the University of Alberta told CTV News Edmonton on Monday.
"We did not have as much snow during the year, so it's tough to tell if it will be worse."
Vliagoftis says a warmer winter could cause plants to start producing pollen earlier in the year, which could cause issues for some people who suffer from allergies, ranging from mild to severe.
"Symptoms of allergies can affect our noses, a stuffy nose, runny nose, a lot of nasal secretions can affect your lungs," Vliagoftis said.
"Some people who don't have asthma will have symptoms of asthma during the spring or around other allergens that could also affect our skin or other organs."
Pharmacist Will Leung says treatments vary depending on the symptoms.
"If they're having itchy eyes, for example, and that's the only symptom, you can give them eye drops," he said.
"If their general symptoms are a runny nose, sneezy and so forth, then you would choose a nasal spray."
He suggests allergy patients check in with a doctor or pharmacist to find the product that works best for them.
Vliagoftis says there are a lot of factors in spring that can impact the severity of allergy season.
"We have to see how humidity and heat (and) the temperature will go on over the next month to couple months to see if it will get worse or not."
"A very wet spring, very hot spring can increase [allergy triggers] a lot, and we have to wait and see what happens."
He added spring pollen typically tends to stick around until June or early July, and then there's a break before another allergy season starts again in the fall.
"When the leaves start falling, and there are rotting leaves on the ground, and then we have again, a lot of moulds."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson Airport gold heist: police
Police say another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.