Mayo Clinic Minute: Surviving seasonal allergies

Spring is officially here and, depending on where you live, many Americans are already officially sniffling with seasonal allergies. An estimated 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children are affected by so-called nasal allergies.

In actuality, the entire respiratory tract is getting in on the act. “Proteins on pollens can trigger an inflammatory cascade, starting with the nasal passages, the sinuses, the throat, the trachea, and, of course, the lungs and the airways,” says Mayo Clinic allergy and immunology expert, Dr. Rohit Divekar. “It can have serious consequences, particularly if you have other health issues.”

Dennis Douda shares some of Dr. Divekar’s advice.