Medical group offers advice for allergy season

  • Published
  • By Capt. Juliane Kim
  • 377th Medical Group
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  If you're one of those unfortunate souls walking around these days with red noses and swollen eyes, join the 30-50 million Americans affected by allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis or hay fever.

Symptoms of allergies are sneezing, clear runny nose, nasal congestion, itching nose and eyes, red eyes, increased tearing with white, stringy drainage, itching inner ear or roof of the mouth, post nasal drip and dry cough. Sounds fun, doesn't it? But allergies are no laughing matter and they are miserable for those suffering from them.

Seasonal, only recurring during certain seasons, and perennial, all year long, allergies are responsible for 5 million missed work days and 2 million missed school days and also costs the United States over $5 billion in healthcare annually. Allergies are also associated with increased risk of developing ear or sinus infections and triggering asthma attacks.

If you've got allergy symptoms all year long, you're probably allergic to dust mites or animals. If your symptoms recur every year only during certain months, you've got seasonal allergies to one of these triggers: grasses, trees and weeds. Right now, here in New Mexico, we've just entered the tree season. Trees typically pollinate in the spring, and inhaling their pollen can cause symptoms in individuals who are allergic to them.

Because pollen is pretty much everywhere outdoors, there is little one can do to avoid a tree allergy. However, here are some measures to keep in mind to minimize your exposure:
· keep windows closed at night,
· use air conditioning with filters,
· keep car windows closed when traveling,
· don't hang laundry outside to dry,
· minimize early morning activity when pollen is usually emitted between 5-10 a.m.,
· don't mow lawns or be around freshly cut grass as mowing stirs up pollens and molds,
· take a vacation during the height of the season, and
· stay indoors when pollen counts are high.

You can follow pollen counts through the local news stations or through www.aaaai.org.
Over-the-counter remedies that you can purchase at your local drug store include antihistamines and decongestants.

Antihistamines are effective in reducing the itching, sneezing, runny nose and eye symptoms but have little effect on nasal congestion. Short acting antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, clemastine and chlorpheniramine last four to six hours and can cause drowsiness and should not be combined with driving or learning. Longer acting antihistamines such as loratidine are less sedating and can provide 24-hour relief with once-a-day dosing. They are useful for maintenance therapy.

Consult your doctor before using the above medications if you are on other medications or have medical problems.

If over-the-counter remedies are not alleviating your allergy symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor who may prescribe oral medications, nasal sprays and eye drops. If your doctor prescribes you a maintenance medication that is used every day, be sure to start it several weeks prior to your expected allergy season to have the maximum benefit. If all else fails, your doctor may consult an allergy specialist for skin testing to determine your specific allergens and possible allergy shots. Allergy shots are highly effective and work through desensitization but require a three to five year commitment.

For those of you not allergic to trees, enjoy the outdoors while you can because with summer, grass allergies will flare and weed season is just around the corner in the fall.