If you suffer from seasonal allergies, medical experts say you should brace yourself for heightened symptoms this spring.

This 2025 allergy season kicked off with pollen counts 10% to 20% higher than average in most parts of the country, according to Hackensack Meridian Health.

"Even adults now are getting the onset of new allergies," said Dr. Catherine Monteleone, with Rutgers Heath. She said climate change has had a growing impact. "That makes the pollen season longer and it also makes each plant produce more pollen."

She says recent weather conditions could make allergy symptoms worse. "We've got a lot of rain now. So what's going to happen is trees all come out at the same time, because it stayed cold for so long so now people are going to see their allergies start."

Experts say the highest levels of pollen are from birch and oak trees around April and May. Allergies from grass pollen typically start in May or June. Dr. Monteleone shares a few tips for those who experience seasonal spring allergies.

"One is avoidance. Windows closed, air conditioning on, come in the house, shower, change your clothes. Get that pollen off of you. Wear sunglasses outside to keep the pollen away from your eyes."

She recommends starting medication early on.

"These medicines don't quite work as well once you're miserable. You want to start them right when you start seeing symptoms and start feeling like there's pollen in the air," she says.

Dr. Monteleone says that sometimes it's OK to double up on medications if symptoms become worse than normal, but you shouldn't do it every day. And if over-the-counter medications aren't working, see your doctor.