Allergies are hiting Hoosiers hard

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hot dry weather is taking a toll on Hoosiers this year. Not just on lawns and landscapes, but also personal health. Allergies are hitting hard right now.

Allergies are the 5th leading chronic disease in adults in the U-S. According to the asthma and allergy foundation of America, allergies cost more than 700-Million dollars in lost productivity each year. And this is peak season for a very mean allergen.

Its been a good year for ragweed in Indiana. Dan Holmes is a Hoosier suffering with allergies. "Last night I kept coughing like crazy. And my nose was stuffed up," he said.

And a good year for ragweed is bad for your allergies. James Fields suffers from allergies too.

"Itchy eyes, runny nose. Pressure in my forehead."

Ragweed is wreaking havoc on Hoosiers because ragweed pollen is peaking. (Dr. Douglas Horton is an Indianapolis Allergist) He said, "September, when you go down to September, you see ragweed is at its peak right now." Horton said a moist early summer helped ragweed start growing and the dry hot august is helping its pollen spread.

"The pollen's very buoyant, and if the weather's dry, then a little bit of wind will blow the pollen all over."

You can see symptoms everywhere. Sheri Dennis said, " Coughing and sneezing and runny eyes. It's just a mess."

Dr. Horton says you might never have had allergy symptoms in the past, but you can still get them now. "It seems like every year you see people, this is the worst year ever. I think they're just experiencing more of the symptoms."

If you are suffering, here's how you can fight back. Stay inside. If you have air conditioning, use it. And keep the windows closed, even on cool nights. Over the counter antihistamines do work says Dr. Horton. And if it gets severe, see your doctor. Shots over time can make a difference. Allergy sufferer Sheri Dennis got those injections.

"That took about 2 years. And ever since then I've been allergy free." Dr. Horton says it takes people on average about two years to start showing signs of allergies.

That means if you move to another state you might be fine for awhile. The ragweed outbreak should ease up in early to mid October. It should be gone by the first frost. Unfortunately, that's when the fall mold season begins.