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Along With Warmer Temperatures, Spring May Bring Allergies, Sleep Disturbances

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Spring is less than two weeks away, but temperatures are already spring like, and this weekend we will spring forward by turning our clocks ahead one hour.

As CBS2's Elise Finch reported, experts say the change of season makes some people sick, but there are things you can do to protect yourself.

With longer days, warmer temperatures, and budding plants spring is the season that some people wait all year for.

"You see the hyacinthes, you see the tulips, it's just magical," one New Yorker said.

But the plants that signify the season can also lead to allergies.

"We're starting off with the big T, tree pollen and that's causing a lot of misery. Right not Juniper, alder, some of these early tree pollen," Dr. Clifford Bassett said.

Dr. Bassett is an allergist and said his patient volume has increased dramatically in the past week.

"Red irritated eyes, itchiness, nasal symptoms, sneezing that doesn't stop, stuffy nose, all of these symptoms can be resolved with appropriate care such as over the counter remedies, intranasal steroid sprays, antihistamines," he said.

The countdown to spring also means we have to spring forward, and turn our clocks ahead by an hour this weekend.

"I definitely feel it for a couple of days after we spring ahead," Lana Herbert said.

Sleep specialist Dr. Lisa Liberatore, said daylight saving time causes a small loss of sleep that has been known to have big consequences in the days that follow including an increase in car accidents and heart attacks.

"There's a lot of our body's mechanisms that only happen during sleep, so you're not allowing the hormonal system of your body to work properly and you're not allowing your body to repair itself and to get rid of toxins unless you give your body adequate rest time," Dr. Liberatore said.

That's seven hours for adults and nine hours for children.

Dr. Liberatore recommends going to sleep and getting up at least 30 minutes earlier on the Friday before the clocks change.

It will gradually shift your internal clock and help you feel your best as the season changes.

Experts also said to avoid daytime naps this weekend, and to shorten your children's naps as well.

 

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