Sniffling, sneezing, congestion – for allergy sufferers, it’s a necessary burden. For those who don’t deal with allergies regularly, don’t count yourself lucky just yet.

“As you grow and have more exposure, you can develop allergies to tree pollen, grass pollen, rag weed pollen,” says Dr. Gaston Turnier, an asthma and allergy specialist with Lee Memorial Health System.

He adds environmental factors are among the most common adult-related allergies. “You’re talking about things you can inhale – your talking about sneezing, stuffy nose or runny nose.” It’s not just the outdoors, allergies inside the home or workplace can strike anyone at any age. “Dust mites, cat and dogs, mold,” adds Dr. Turnier. Mold can especially affect adults in Southwest Florida because of the extreme humidity.

Narrowing in on what’s behind your sneezing and watery eyes is easy. Your doctor can help you find the cause and solution through a simple blood test.