Shreveport Allergy Season Is Peaking and Oak May Be to Blame 

If it feels like everybody in Shreveport-Bossier is sneezing, rubbing their eyes, or reaching for tissues this week, you are not imagining it. Louisiana health experts say we are in the height of allergy season, and one of the biggest troublemakers right now is oak pollen.  

That local angle matters here because Shreveport’s current allergy report also lists oak among the active allergens, which helps explain why so many people feel miserable on dry, breezy spring days. 

Why Oak Pollen Can Make Spring Miserable 

A lot of people assume the prettiest blooming trees are the biggest allergy problem, but that is not always the case. Ochsner Health immunologist Dr. John Carlson says the bigger issue comes from trees that throw pollen into the wind, especially oaks.  

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According to a recenty report by the Louisiana Radio Network, Carlson said about 30% of people with allergies are allergic to oak pollen, calling it the primary pollen moving through the air right now. That is a big reason windy days can feel especially rough across North Louisiana. 

What Shreveport-Bossier Residents Can Do 

This is the part most allergy sufferers care about. Carlson says if your main symptoms are a sneezy nose, runny nose, or congestion, an intranasal steroid available at the drug store can help. That does not mean every treatment works the same for every person, but it does mean many people can start with over-the-counter relief instead of just toughing it out. 

Pollen.com’s Shreveport page also includes practical seasonal advice like closing windows and running the air conditioner, which is a pretty useful reminder during a week like this. 

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The bad news is that allergy season is not about to pack up and leave. Carlson says tree pollen should ease toward the end of spring, but then grass pollen will start taking over. In other words, this is probably not a one-and-done week for allergy trouble in the Shreveport area.  

For a lot of families, this is the time of year when staying ahead of symptoms matters more than waiting until they get unbearable. If spring has already hit you hard, now is probably the time to start paying attention.