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Ragweed Misery Arrives Early Says Allergist

commons.wikimedia.org

A former Wisconsin Congressman who is also an allergist says we've entered into the fall ragweed season on the earliest known date.

Dr. Steve Kagan in Appleton says this becomes the biological start of the fall season as ragweed plants have begun to pollinate....

".....when we get wind in northern Wisconsin it's going to have ragweed pollen in it right about now. We identified ragweed in the air several days ago. It's about 10 days before expected. Ordinarily we get ragweed pollination August 15...."

Kagan  describes some symptoms...

"....ragweed can induce hay fever symptoms which is itching of the eyes, sinus headaches, nasal congestion, and you can even get asthma from it because allergy has different names. When allergy is in the head we call it hay fever or sinus, in the lungs, allergy is called asthma...."

Kagan says talk with your doctor or pharmacist about an over-the-counter antihistamine which could help, and if' it's severe, see your doctor first.

Kagen represented the 8th Congressional District from 2007 though 2011

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