It’s that dreaded time of year: allergy season.

As the blossoms of plants across the Northern Hemisphere began to open up and release their cocktail of life-giving pollen, they unleash havoc on the immune systems of many people who become miserable and home-bound — but fortunately, there’s something you can do about it, according to a Journal News report.

If you’re in Louisville, Kentucky, you’re facing the worst of spring allergies this year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says according to a report. The city is No. 1 in allergies this year after ranking No. 5 last year.

A total of 17.6 million adults and 6.6 million children have been diagnosed with some sort of seasonal allergy, such as hay fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Because it was a fairly moist winter this year, it means that this allergy season could be particularly bad. Warm, dry springs that follow wet winters tend to boost pollen counts. If the spring is wet as well, it may keep pollen counts down.

Doctors recommend fighting back against allergies before they even start. With tree pollen beginning at the end of March to early April, time is of the essence.

Antihistamines and corticosteroid nasal sprays can be purchased over the counter and can prevent inflammation. If you start earlier, it may protect you better and keep you from feeling ill in the first place. People who wait will typically suffer longer, according to the report.

If you have only mild symptoms, there’s no need to see a doctor, and over-the-counter medication should work perfectly fine, but when it starts interfering with your everyday activities, it’s time to see a specialist. They can offer other forms of treatment if medications over the counter don’t work, including allergy shots or drugs, as well as antihistamine nasal sprays.