If watery eyes, sniffling and sneezing are deflating your enthusiasm for spring, take comfort — you are not alone.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, there are about 50 million allergy sufferers in America and diagnoses are on the rise.

If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, Dr. Larry Posner of North Bay Allergy and Asthma Medical Associates said tree pollens are likely to blame. “Currently, what we are seeing is some of the tree pollens from juniper, cypress, oak and pine,” said Posner. “By the end of March and early April, those will peak even higher. We’re also seeing mustard on the (pollen) counts and another thing I expect to be a problem going forward is olive tree pollen, because it is a very potent allergen.”

Other culprits for spring allergy symptoms are wild grass pollens — plentiful this year because of the wet Napa winter, he said. “This year, I expect the grass counts will be double what they were last year and it will start in April and peak at the end of May.”

With the start of spring approaching, Posner said he’s seeing an increase in patient visits. “This week is when things are really taking off. My volume will go up about 80 percent during the spring and we’re just at the beginning of that right now.”

To stop spring allergy symptoms before they start, he recommended finding a prescription or over-the-counter medication that works for you and taking it every day through the middle or end of June.

Posner, who started practicing in 1989, added that this allergy season marks the first time local pollen counts are

measured regularly. Although a Web site listing the information is not yet available, he said weekly pollen counts are taken on the roof of Queen of the Valley Medical Center and the resulting data is available at his office.

Dr. Robert Freinkel, a Napa allergist who has been practicing for 31 years, said allergy sufferers should seek medical help when considerable symptoms do not subside with the use of over-the-counter medications. Although some over-the-counter remedies can be effective for nasal symptoms, he said, “the gold standard is topical nose sprays, which you can get by prescription.”

“On average, over-the-counter medications will reduce symptoms by 35 percent,” said Posner. “But with prescription medicines, the number goes up to 60 or 65 percent. And prescription nasal sprays are far more effective then over-the-counter medications,” he said, adding that saline nasal rinses are another effective tool in the war against allergies.

Gerald Orecchia, a pharmacist at Rite Aid Pharmacy, said the start of the spring allergy season has increased prescription sales and Claritin is the most popular over-the-counter allergy medication at the Imola Avenue business.

Taking supplements of local bee pollen may also help to alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms, he said.

Allergy tips

Indoor and outdoor allergy sufferers can breathe easier at home by following these tips:

• Dusting surfaces and wash bedding often

• Vacuum once or twice a week to reduce dust mites.

• Avoid pets with feathers or fur. If you can’t bear to part with your pet, at least keep it out of the bedroom.

• Keep windows and doors closed.

• Change the filter often on your air conditioner.

• Reduce the moisture in the bathroom and kitchen to reduce mold.

• Plants can carry pollen and mold too, so limit houseplants.