WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Why your allergies may be worse this fall

September 20, 2011

Fall starts Friday and allergists are predicting it's going to be one of the harshest, longest allergy seasons on the books. Those swollen eyes and itchy noses might be worse than ever.

Instead of enjoying the last days of summer outdoors, Peter Berlinghof spent them under the covers.

"I just felt like there's a perpetual itch up my nose all day long that really wouldn't go away. Blowing my nose and sneezing didn't really offer any relief," he said.

His allergies got so bad, he finally took his runny nose to an allergy doctor for help. Peter found out he's allergic to pollen, those tiny grains plants use to reproduce. Plants like ragweed, which is especially prevalent in the fall. And this fall, allergy experts say the levels of pollen in the air will reach epic proportions, peaking in mid-September, sending people to allergists like Dr. Cliff Bassett.

It's not just one thing that's making this season especially bad, it's several. From a rainy, stormy summer to record hot days, it all adds up to a lot of pollinating weeds.

"A lot of local environmental conditions such as climate change, increasing CO2 levels, increasing temperature change is causing plants to produce more pollen and the pollen itself is more powerful, and we think it will be lasting another 2 or 3 weeks longer this fall," Bassett said.

And that onslaught of sneezing and itching that's sending folks into Bassett's office-- that's not going to end any time soon. That's not much consolation for Peter Berlinghof, who can't get back those late summer days he already lost.

"Just felt bad because I really didn't want to be around anybody or do anything," he said.

Click here for more on allergies.

CBS News