SAN ANTONIO – According to experts, oak pollen is being recorded at record levels this year.
"Even people who don't normally have a lot of trouble in the spring with oak will have trouble this year," said Dr. Paul Ratner, an allergist and immunologist
Ratner uses gauges to track pollen counts in the San Antonio area and said oak pollen is showing up at unexpected levels.
Normally oak pollen levels are at 8,000 to 10,000 parts per cubic meter. Over the weekend, they were recorded at 46,000.
"Going back and looking at our records for over the past 20 years that we have, I have never seen an oak count that high," he said.
Allergy sufferers aren't surprised.
"The itchiness, the nose, the coughing now, because it's going down to my chest, and I'm coughing," said JoAnn Cardenas.
"We take lots of daily medicines and nose sprays and we actually have to take extra showers when we get home," said Claire Montwill.
According to Ratner, oak pollen season usually peaks from March 15-April 15 but it could end later than usual since it started a little late this year.
"I would say about two more weeks of these intermittent high counts and then we'll start to taper off towards the end of April," he said.
In the meantime, Ratner suggests allergy sufferers take over-the-counter or prescription medications every day.