Atrium Health Floyd's Dr. Michael Land Offers Some Tips

ROME, Ga., April 8, 2025 – If you find yourself sneezing, scratching and dealing with watery eyes, you are not alone. It is still allergy season in northwest Georgia. Grass and tree pollen is common throughout most of the summer.

Symptoms that indicate possible allergy problems include:

• sneezing
• congestion
• runny nose
  
• red, watery or itchy eyes
  

Limiting outdoor time during the peak of pollen season can bring relief to some people. But for those who are also allergic to pet dander and dust, going indoors isn't necessarily the answer.

“Taking over-the-counter allergy medicines can provide relief for many patients," said Michael Land, M.D., with Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine in Adairsville, “although not everyone reacts positively to them.

“Also, if you have high blood pressure, make sure you read the labels because some products can raise your blood pressure," Land added. “I also suggest trying nasal saline solutions. Those can be taken multiple times a day without almost any negative side effects."

Land also recommends controlling indoor allergens like pet dander, mold and dust by vacuuming or sweeping often, using an air purifier or buy a special filter for your central air-conditioning system.

He said there are also many effective prescription medications that can help.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta offers the following tips:

• Check pollen forecasts, and limit outdoor time during elevated levels.
• Do not touch your eyes after being outdoors and wash your hands before touching your eyes indoors.
• Shower after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
• Change your clothes after being outdoors.
• Keep windows closed during pollen season.

 Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine in Adairsville, 6000 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy NW, is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 to noon. Call 770-773-9448 to make an appointment.

About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd strategically combined with Harbin Clinic in 2024 and employs more than 5,200 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at four facilities: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 361-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; and Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health, also in Rome. Together, Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic provide primary care, specialty care and urgent care throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.

About Advocate Health 
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Advocate Health is nationally recognized for its expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs more than 160,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.