Allergy sufferers know the past year in North Texas has been rough.
"My entire family is pretty much dying," said Fort Worth resident Lucy Carney.
"We have nonstop running noses, nonstop congestion, nonstop can't breathe, can't concentrate, can't everything, all day, all the time," Carney added.
Carney blames Mother Nature for her misery, and she's probably right to do so.
"We're not getting a break because it's so warm. There is just pollen all the time, so we don't even get the winter break which we usually look forward to," Carney said.
Dr. James Haden, with the Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Fort Worth, said a wetter than normal summer and a warmer winter is to blame.
"Over the past 12 months we've had more records set than I've ever seen for pollen counts being high," Haden said.
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Juniper and cedar are very high right now, which Haden said can lead to a lot of eye irritation.
"We're seeing a lot of people coming in with more eye symptoms. We've been treating a lot of asthma attacks," Haden said. "The rapid cycling of the temperature is hard on the nose and the lungs, so when it gets hot and cold and hot and cold, that triggers more asthma as well."
And we could see more pollen sooner rather than later this year.
"Now, it's almost like spring time in February, so I anticipate the spring trees like oak and pecan will start pollinating early," Haden said.
If you turn to over-the-counter medicines for relief, Haden offers this advice.
"These medicines do work better if you start them before your symptoms get really bad. They work to prevent the symptoms, rather than rescue you from symptoms when they're out of control," Haden said.
