Relentless sneezing. Nonstop watery eyes. Noses bloody from blowing them so much. If you’re suffering right now, know that you’re not alone. Bay A

‘Allergies are killing me’: Why allergy conditions are worse than ever in the Bay Area

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2024-07-14 04:00:03

Relentless sneezing. Nonstop watery eyes. Noses bloody from blowing them so much. If you’re suffering right now, know that you’re not alone.

Bay Area locals have been taking to social media to detail the misery of their allergy symptoms, with many claiming they’re the worst they’ve ever been.

The season’s severity landed one Standard staffer in the emergency room, and your humble reporter is piecing together this dispatch from behind a mound of tissues and cough drop wrappers. We’re part of an army of allergy sufferers.

“This year has been different. Face tingles, congestion, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, sore throat,” said Oakland resident Darren Hall. The Alabama native is used to seasonal allergies—growing up, he sometimes saw cars coated in pollen—yet he’s never experienced such debilitating symptoms as he has this season. The severity of his allergies has caused him to miss nearly a week of work.

Alexander Savgira, who lives in San Jose, said he can usually control his seasonal sneezing and scratchy throat by taking nondrowsy antihistamine tablets. But this year, he’s had to use pills, spray, eye drops and Benadryl at night. And yet, he still wakes up coughing. (He suspects London plane trees, abundant in San Jose, are the culprit.)