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Mercy Medical Center internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony

Mercy Internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony Discusses Ways To Combat Allergies On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

A long winter has led to a terrible spring for allergy sufferers.

"As you can see, the tree pollen is really high, and mold is sky high," said Mercy Medical Center internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony. "It's a terrible allergy season. Every year we say it's the worst year ever, but this year, we really might have had the worst year ever."

Nurse Shanee Randall has had allergies since her teens, but she said this year has been out of control.

"It's seems like it's getting worse the older I get. It used to be seasonal allergies, but now it seems like I'm getting it every season," she said.

Randall luckily spends most of her time inside in air conditioning away from the causes of pollen.

"Close the windows and turn on the AC. In cars, close the windows to keep the pollen out," Dr. O'Mahony said.

According to Dr. O'Mahony, she knows the game because she has allergies, too.

"I do, but I was out of town and missed the first week of April when it all really exploded, and that helped a lot," she said.

If you can't be away during allergy season, try taking you medication at night so it is fully at work in the morning when pollen is highest. Experts also said you can't become immune to allergy medication, but you may have more problems because your allergies may become more severe.

Randall said she has had to double up on her Singulair to keep her allergies under control, and she has an appointment with an allergist.

"Hopefully it will be over soon," she said. To view Dr. O'Mahony's interview with WBAL-TV11 re: allergies online, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/23436031/detail.html.