Cedar fever season nears, bringing misery for allergy sufferers

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Ah choo!

It is likely that people are preparing for the heart of the holiday season, that time from Thanksgiving through Christmas/Hanukkah to New Year's. Their thoughts are on holiday gatherings, buying gifts, attending Christmas concerts--things like that.

To quote the song, "It's the most wonderful time of the year".

For some, however, those good times are rudely interrupted because of an allergy that causes problems. Cedar season is fast approaching.

In fact, it might get an early start. Our KXAN pollen count on Saturday, November 23rd shows a little cedar under the microscope. Though, only three grains per cubic meter of air, it was still there, striking fear into those whose lives are altered because cedar fever makes them feel so bad.

Mountain Cedar typically runs from mid-December through mid-February, peaking in mid-January when we can get counts in the thousands or tens of thousands. It just doesn't stop in mid-February as we can see numbers going all the way into March.

They are located everywhere, from here in the city to the Hill Country. But they are also found in some areas east of I-35.

Also known as Ashe Juniper, the trees thrive in cold and warm weather. The cold means nothing to them. And, what's worse, is that cedar trees are drought-tolerant. The December-January-February forecast from the Climate Prediction Center does point to a Drier-Than-Normal meteorological winter with, no surprise here, a Warmer-Than-Normal pattern to continue.

If you are new to this area you may begin to feel the effects of cedar. Among the symptoms are itchy watery eyes, a nasty cough, a nose that runs like an Olympian, sneezing and a sore throat. These are typical with other allergies but cedar fever seems to make them worse.

Relief can come in a few ways. You can purchase antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays over the counter. Or, when you visit your doctor, or, specifically, a board-certified allergist, she or he might prescribe a stronger antihistamine or nasal spray.

For some, it's immunotherapy that will be needed. This involves taking allergy shots or drops that are designed to expose sufferers to small bits of the cedar pollen. They are designed to allow you to build up a tolerance to the dreaded pollen allowing you to reduce your symptoms.

First things first, though, and that means visiting your allergist so they may do a proper diagnosis and prescribe the best medicine to help alleviate the effects. It's recommended that you do not do a self-diagnosis. A medical practitioner is the best way to go.

One more thing about immunotherapy is that some patients need to do this NOT just during the season but all year. You shouldn't go off your maintenance just because you start feeling better.

Gesundheit!