AUSTIN, Texas — Texans suffering through allergy season are searching for solutions. Meg Bailey, allergy sufferer, shared her symptoms.

"Sinus headaches, runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy throat and a cough," she said. 

Bailey just couldn’t take it anymore, so she made an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor for the very first time in her life. 

"I'm a single mom and I work full time, so having to take time off just for allergies because I can't focus because I have a sinus headache. It's really hard to do that," Bailey said.

This year's Allergy Capitals report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks McAllen as the third most challenging place to live with seasonal allergies, San Antonio as the fifth most challenging, and Austin and Dallas were also included in the top 100.

"On days when my allergies are really bad, it's hard for me to focus at work. I don't want to spend time outside, and I have a 3-year old who loves playing soccer," Bailey said.

Dr. Karen Stierman says she has noticed a significant increase in the number of patients she is seeing this spring. 

Stierman is the founder of ENT & Allergy Center of Austin.

"Partly because of the oak pollen being so high this year. As well as the lack of rain because you know the rain often times will wash away some of the oak pollen," Stierman said. 

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans live with various types of allergies every year. 

"With COVID and the mask protocols that were more strictly in place last spring, I think there was less allergen going into people's noses. And again that is the route of entry. It's respiratory," Stierman said. 

However, people like Bailey don't have to suffer.

She is eager to find a treatment that works best for her.

"The faster that I can get my allergies under control, the faster I can get back to living my life," Bailey said.