The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the outdoors are calling out to me and... is that cedar pollen on my dog’s nose?!

Yes, it is the season when yellow cedar dust mixes with the air and gives allergy sufferers hell. KVUE reports that this season has recorded the highest cedar pollen count since January 2010, with a record 3,700 grains per cubic meter in the air.

Austin’s Cedar Park has the highest cedar pollen count in Central Texas, according to studies performed by KVUE meteorologists in 2009 and 2004. So if you’ve got allergies, try to stay away from the park until March when cedar pollen season ends.

And if you’re suffering from a headache, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing fits of 40 to 50 times in a row, chances are you’ve got cedar fever.

Doctors advise that allergy sufferers take allergy shots months before cedar season begins to avoid problems. But if you failed to take this precautionary step, short term solutions include allergy medicines, eye drops, nose sprays, or even steroids.

Read more over at KVUE.

See more health and fitness news.

Image courtesy of mastersdivision.com.