Why are my allergies so bad right now? This Sacramento doctor has tips to help you manage

Brianna Taylor
·3 min read
The best defense for fighting illness is a good offense, using tissues when coughing and sneezing. And, nurses remind parents and children alike that the single most important thing everyone can do to stay healthy is to wash their hands with soap and water.

It’s that time of year again in Sacramento when you don’t know if your sniffles are from persistent allergies or one of the several viruses circling the state.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked Sacramento as one of the least challenging cities for seasonal allergies in a 2024 Allergy Capitals report.

Try telling that to the people who live here. The air can be problematic for allergy sufferers and the last couple of months of heavy rain doesn’t help.

The American asthma and allergy foundation reports rainfall can exacerbate grass, weeds, dust and mold allergy symptoms.

Dr. NaYoung Kim, the chief of allergy and immunology for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville, said there are “fantastic” over-the-counter medications designed to relieve symptoms including nasal steroids and antihistamine nose sprays.

Decongestant medication should not be used every day because “most of them can raise your blood pressure,” she added.

Why are allergies so bad in Sacramento right now? How can I treat them?

Kim answers these questions and more in a Q&A with The Bee on Friday.

The following responses were edited for brevity and clarity. The Sacramento Bee posed the questions in a phone interview.

1. Why are seasonal allergies so bad in Sacramento right now?

Kim: “Part of it is the wind.

Also the great rain, it’s fantastic for things to bloom and we need it so much, but when that happens ... things grow really well.

When it warms up and gets really windy, that pollen gets blown everywhere. That’s probably why allergy sufferers are feeling it.”

2. Why are some years worse for seasonal allergies than others?

Kim: “Rain, sun and wind ... all the environmental factors play a role in some years being worse than others.”

3. Do season allergies worsen with age?

Kim: “Allergies can change over time.

You’ll meet people from all different walks of life who say ‘My allergies got so much better after this or ‘so much worse after this.’ They can change over a lifetime but it’s not a guarantee that they’re going to get better or worse.”

4. Can allergies make you sick?

Kim: “People will complain that they have a sensation of not feeling well ... but it’s not a direct correlation that just because you have allergies your immune system is worse.

You’re not more sick because you have allergies.”

5. What are the best methods to fight seasonal allergies?

Kim: “For seasonal allergies, environmental control is key.

When it’s a super windy day or a super high pollen count day, don’t spend a lot of time outside. If you’ve been outside ... wash your hair and change your clothes before you go to bed.

If you have a dog and you’re walking them often, you want to wash them more often because they’re going to bring the pollen in.”

6. Is it safe to use nasal allergy spray year-round?

Kim: “They all have slightly different side effects.

The nasal steroids can thin the skin and make people who are prone to nosebleeds have more nosebleeds. That’s why proper nasal technique is very important.

You want to tilt your chin down. If you look up, it’s going to drip down your throat and taste horrible. You want to lean a bit forward, not at your toes but if you were looking straight at the sink.

Point the nasal spray up and away from the midline ... that’s where the swollen areas in the nose are and it’s going to work better.”

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.