SHERMAN, TX -- If you have allergies, you may have noticed your symptoms flaring up recently.

"My nose gets stuffy. It gets runny. I start sneezing a lot and sometimes I cough," allergy sufferer Christian Jones said.

These are common symptoms when allergies strike. Allergist, Dr. Vern Laing, has seen an increase in patients, confirming that it may be February but allergy season is in full swing.

"It's picked up dramatically in the last two to three weeks," Dr. Laing said.

"I don't usually have it this early in the year. Normally I have it when I start mowing and that's usually in the spring. But it looks like it's going to be a bad season for allergies," allergy sufferer Charles Hamilton said.

There has been talk of it being the worst allergy season on record, but Dr. Laing doesn't believe that's accurate.

"I don't know how we could ascertain whether it's the worst year or how it would rank. That's very difficult to do," he said. "But if you're having a lot of trouble, it's the worst year you've experienced."

Dr. Laing attributes the recent increase in runny noses and itchy eyes to Mountain Cedar that comes with the winds from the Texas Hill Country.

"I don't know how to give you an estimate of the percentage of my patients with Mountain Cedar, but put it this way, it's significant," Dr. Laing said.

He says before you run to the doctor, try an over-the-counter antihistamine first. If that doesn't work, he suggests an allergy test so the doctor can pinpoint what you're allergic to, and start you on a fast track to relief.

Remember if you'd like to keep up with what's in the air each day, spiking your allergy symptoms, check out Dr. Laing's allergen forecast in the weather section on our website.