By Sadler Wilson
As spring is settling, the pollen is piling up outside. Every year we say: “this is the worst year yet!” It seems to have become a familiar cycle each year. Students enter school each day with red, itchy eyes and stopped-up noses stinging from tissues. Both teachers and students spend their class time blowing their nose and battling the pain from their sore throats.
Iyla Ansari ‘25 reflects on her battle with severe pollen allergies, and the symptoms which indicate a severe pollen day.
“The worst days are when I wake up with crust around my eyes and they are shut,” Iyla said. “The second I step outside, I start sneezing a lot and my eyes are itchy throughout the day and I have a headache.”
Iyla is not alone in her struggle, as many others complain about their symptoms of pollen throughout the school day. Justifiably so – on April 2, 2024, the pollen count in Atlanta reached its third highest count in history! That day, the city experienced a pollen count of 8740, and this intense amount affected many WA students’ allergies.
Sidney Pinner ‘25 noticed that her symptoms have been amplified this year, relating the allergies to her struggles with asthma.
“I usually get nose bleeds or my nose starts running really badly, and sometimes I have a hard time breathing,” Sidney said. “I have an inhaler to help me breathe because I have asthma, and I also take Claritin and Zyrtec – Zyrtec is the best.”
Iyla also takes allergy medicines daily, and she explains how she has battled her severe allergies from a young age.
“I take Zyrtec and Flonase, and I also take a Afrin nose spray every once in a while,” Iyla said. “I did allergy shots when I was around 7 to 11 years old.”
The pollen count this spring has truly been spiraling out of control, and the students and faculty of WA have been feeling the same as they attempt to battle through the rough months of spring. Every year the cycle keeps getting worse…
“Allergies have been a lot worse this year than it was last year because last year nothing happened to me, but this year I have to take a Claritin every single day,” Sidney said.
