HEALTH TIPS, TOOLS & TESTS

Allergies

Allergy Season is Here
By Diane Jordan-Wagner, M.D., AP&S Clinic

Spring is just around the corner. Along with thoughts of daffodils and spring cleaning, allergy sufferers begin to think of sneezes, itches, and wheezes. People with seasonal allergies should be able to participate in outdoor sports, and do a little gardening if they enjoy it. However, avoiding excess exposure to spring tree and grass pollen is the first step to minimize allergy symptoms:

1. Stay indoors when it is windy.
2. Close windows and vents when driving/riding in the car. When pollen counts are high the number of particles you are exposed to is multiplied by the speed of travel as pollens rush through the open window.
3. Close bedroom windows. Whenever air conditioning is available, use it and clean or replace filters monthly. When air conditioning is not available consider a HEPA air cleaner for the bedroom.
4. Avoid mowing grass if possible. If you must mow ’Äì wear a mask or scarf covering your nose and mouth, wear goggles, take a non-drowsy antihistamine before you mow, and take a shower immediately upon finishing the job to rinse pollens away. Keep the grass cut short. Tall grass has more pollen.
5. Don’Äôt dry clothes, sheets, or towels outdoors; they absorb pollens and can trigger allergy symptoms.
6. Wear close fitting sunglasses outdoors especially if it is windy. Don’Äôt rub your eyes.

When allergy symptoms persist despite avoidance measures, over the counter medications offer benefit. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) decreases nasal stuffiness. Diphenhydramine (Benedryl), chlorphineramine (CTM), clemastine (Tavist) and other anhihistamines help control runny nose, watery eyes, and itchy eyes, ears, nose, throat. Non-prescription antihistamines slow reflexes. They should not be used before driving. A non-drowsy antihistamine, loratadine (Claritin), is now available over the counter. It is a good choice for someone on the go. Wetting eye-drops are useful for itchy, red, watery eyes. Visene-A eye drops are medicated and reduce itch and redness further.

If minimizing pollen exposure and non-prescription medications are not good enough - see your doctor. Prescription nose spray and prescription non-drowsy antihistamines may afford control. People with seasonal allergy symptoms year after year should start using their prescriptions 2 weeks before the season begins and use it routinely until the season ends. Symptom control is much better with this preventative approach.

When, despite treatment, allergy prevents a child from playing on the ball team, stops a picnic in the park, or interferes with a normal lifestyle, see an allergist.

At the first visit with an allergist a medical history and physical exam are done followed by allergy skin tests. Dr. Jordan-Wagner does superficial skin prick testing to identify allergies - these are essentially painless. Once allergies are identified avoidance may be easier. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) might be prescribed. A series of allergy shots are given in the doctor’Äôs office, tapering from weekly to monthly as tolerated. Eighty percent of patients taking allergy shots get 80% reduction in their allergy symptoms. Shots are continued 3-5 years, when stopped the benefit usually persists for years or a lifetime.

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