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Allergy Sufferers Deal With Tough Season

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Neal Cronin has suffered many years with allergies, and said this year is particularly bad.

"I get shots, I use inhalers, I've picked up a lot of clues from my doctor on how to wrap the bed, cover the pillows, vacuum the carpet," he said. "There are a lot of simple things you can do to make your life better."

His symptoms have been very bad this year.

"Itchy throat, itchy eyes, a lot of sneezing, lot of hacking coughing, nothing fun," he said.

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The weather has played a role in the severity of the season.

Dr. James Lakin, with Minnesota Allergy and Asthma Clinic, says the mild winter, and wet spring contributed to the problem.

"We had good rains before the droughts set in, and we've had subsequently some good rains over the past few weeks, so in consequence, rag weeds and some of the other weeds have been pollinating very heavily," he said.

Lakin says there are many remedies, like over-the-counter medicines. He says you should also reduce your exposure, by keeping windows closed, and using the air conditioner, as much as possible.

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