By Dr. Eric Kozlow, allergist with Cone Health Allergy and Asthma Center of North Carolina
Dr. Eric Kozlow, a board certified allergist with Cone Health Allergy and Asthma Center of North Carolina, practices with Drs. Bardelas, Bhatti, and Hicks in Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro, and Reidsville.
For various reasons, some people have an immune system that overreacts to certain substances we encounter in life. These can include the sting of a bee, exposure to dust mites and animal dander, eating a peanut and, specific to spring, inhaling grass and tree pollen.
When we talk of seasonal allergies, we are usually talking about conditions that develop as a result of pollen exposure. For example, the early spring pollen is tree pollen, and the late spring pollen is grass pollen. We breathe it in and, for people who are sensitive to it, their bodies respond with respiratory symptoms.
When the upper airways are affected, it is called allergic rhinitis. When the lower airways are affected, it is called asthma. The eyes and skin can also be involved with these reactions. In recent years, allergy season has arrived earlier and lasted longer with higher and higher pollen counts. This makes it tough for people who are sensitive to these pollens.
Fortunately, there are a variety of steps you can take to reduce these allergic reactions against pollen. For people with mild allergies affecting the eyes and nose, there are several over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Claritin and Zyrtec, with several generic versions of each as well. Several prescription medications for allergies of the nose and eyes are available, including nasal steroids (Nasonex, Qnasl, Omnaris), nasal antihistamines (Astepro, Patanase, Dymista) and eye drops (Pataday, Bepreve).
For people who have difficulty with their lungs, there are several prescription medications, such as inhaled steroids (Asmanex, Ovar, Flovent) and bronchodilators (Provental, Proair, Ventolin), available to decrease the swelling of the lungs and the symptoms that arise from this swelling.
In addition to medications, it is important to avoid the substances that cause allergies. Keep the doors and windows closed during allergy season. Use a pollen-trapping air filter, called a HEPA filter, in your house to eliminate any pollen that comes in through the front door. Shower as soon as you get home after being outdoors. This removes pollen from your skin and hair and gets you away from pollen-covered clothing. Consider using a neti pot to rinse the sinuses with warm water and remove some of the trapped pollen.
You can’t stay inside, but you may need to limit your time outdoors during certain periods of the year. Many websites and weather reports provide daily pollen counts. Stay inside when pollen counts are highest – usually around midday. Windy days keep pollen stirred in the air, so avoid those times as well. Don’t hang laundry outside where it can collect pollen and contaminate you when using a towel or climbing into bed. If your pets go outside, keep them off of the furniture, out of the bedroom and other areas to avoid spreading pollen. Wear a filter mask while doing yard work to keep pollen at bay.
If nothing seems to help, see an allergist. An allergist will determine what specific allergies you possess and assign a treatment plan to minimize your symptoms. Usually with a combination of allergen-avoidance measures and appropriate medications, most allergic conditions can be managed quite well.
If this approach is ineffective, allergy shots may help. For more than 100 years, physicians have placed small amounts of the substance causing the allergic reaction under the skin of sensitive people. The idea is to increase the amount of the administered substance over weeks or months as the person’s immune system slowly develops a tolerance to the substance. At least 80 percent of allergic people who undergo this type of therapy resolve their allergic reactions. Under medical supervision, this treatment has proven to be a very safe technique for children and adults.
A few basic strategies to reduce your exposure to pollen and the use of the correct allergy medication or treatment by an allergist can make every season a time to be enjoyed without discomforting allergic symptoms.