Cedar Season in Austin, Texas continues with Allen K Lieberman, MD on KVUE–In this recent interview, Dr. Lieberman, a board certified allergist of Austin Family Allergy & Asthma, discusses the state of cedar in the air, cedar allergies and cedar fever in Austin, Texas.
Scroll down to click on the link to WATCH the KVUE-TV video!
KVUE-TV: Would you say this has been an unusual cedar season?
Dr. Lieberman: Absolutely. I have never seen a season where we had such record pollen counts before New Years day! Typically it is New Year’s Eve when we see the first cedar spike in the environment in the Austin, Texas area. This year with the warmer weather and persistent rains, cedar virtually disappeared from the pollen counts for about a week and a half. The dry, windy weather of late has brought it out again.
KVUE-TV: Is this a sample of a cedar tree?
Dr. Lieberman: Yes, this is a branch from a male cedar tree. You can tell it is a male because it does not have berries. You can also see these cones coming off at the very tip. These cones contain the pollen. Fortunately, these cones are now empty due to the high winds a few days ago. This is what people should watch out for, the male trees with these small brownish cones.
KVUE-TV: What advice could you provide for our viewers when it comes to cedar season?
Dr. Lieberman: Everyone should remain on their allergy and asthma meds and even though it is tempting to open the windows at night, it is best to keep them closed. If a combination of antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops are not working, steroids can be used as a last resort. We are very late in the season, in football terms we are at the two-minute warning.
KVUE-TV: What about allergy shots or drops?
Dr. Lieberman: Allergy shots and drops typically take months to begin to take effect. The best advice for those who had a miserable cedar season is to set up an appointment with a board certified allergist at Austin Family Allergy & Asthma and get allergy tested after the season is over. February is a great time for this as it is after the cedar season and before oak season gets started. Yes, there is another round of allergies that people need to be aware of! To prepare, people can safely stop their antihistamines for allergy testing. The Board Certified Allergy Doctor can discuss the best long-term options such as allergy shots or allergy drops. At Austin Family Allergy & Asthma, our patients who began taking allergy drops prior to cedar season, have done very well this year with significant less cedar trouble than the past few years. Just a side note: Allergy Drops or Shots administered prior to the start of cedar season, helps the immune system to not to react to cedar when exposed.
Click HERE to watch the interview on KVUE in Austin, Texas.
For comprehensive care that considers the entire patient, regardless of age, turn to Board Certified Allergist Dr. Allen K. Lieberman. Austin Family Allergy & Asthma is your partner in addressing cedar fever, hay fever, oak allergies, asthma, and food allergy concerns. With the convenience of same day or next day appointments, including some Saturdays, take the proactive step towards your well-being. Call 512-346-7936 to secure your appointment today. ¡Sí, Hablamos español!
