INDIANAPOLIS — As many as 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year.
Doctors in Indianapolis said the pollen count isn't high enough to cause breathing problems yet, but allergy season is here. Even if you've never suffered from allergies before, that doesn't mean you're out of the woods.
Experts said the prevalence of adult onset allergies is on the rise. One expert said this could be due to longer, more severe pollen seasons. People with a family history of allergies are especially susceptible to develop allergies later in life.
"I have so many people that say, 'Yeah, I never had trouble like this going outside when I was a kid, teens, 20s, 30s and suddenly, oh my gosh, every spring I get sneezing, congestion. It's terrible,'" Dr. Jay Jin, an allergist at IU Health, said.
This time of year many first-time allergy sufferers assume they have a cold since the symptoms are so similar — itchy, watery eyes, congestion and sneezing.
Jin said he sees a lot of adults coming in with allergy symptoms during the spring.
If you believe you are experiencing allergies, doctors say try to create an allergen-free environment by closing windows and doors.
