The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6 ways to cope with spring allergies
As pollen counts spike, it’s the least wonderful time of the year.
If you can’t stop reaching for the Kleenex, and if your eyes are red, itchy, burning and watery, you know spring is in the air — and so is the pollen.
Monday’s pollen count hit 2,507, keeping the region in the “extremely high range,” according to the National Allergy Bureau. The main tree pollen contributors are oak, pine, sweet gum, hackberry and birch. Pollen counts have been in the high or extremely high range for the past two weeks.
So your allergies may be acting up, and while the high pollen count is not unprecedented for this time of year, it may feel particularly intense, thanks to dramatic swings in temperatures during recent weeks.
When the weather turned cooler in March, the pollen counts dropped during cold, and even freezing temperatures. Now that the warm weather has returned, so has the pollen.
And during a re-exposure to spring pollen, some people may
experience a more intense reaction in what is referred to as the “priming effect,” according to Atlanta Allergy & Asthma. When people are exposed to an allergen, and then the pollen goes away for a while because of a weather change (recent freezing temperatures) and then they are re-exposed to the allergen (now during warmer temperatures), a person can have an even more intense allergic response because their immune system is primed.
“This is an unusual year,” said Dr. Stanley Fineman of Atlanta Allergy & Asthma. “A lot of people are noticing more symptoms.”
Fineman’s No. 1 tip — have a management plan to cope with symptoms this spring.
Here are six strategies from Atlanta Allergy & Asthma to get some relief from springtime allergies:
1. Adjust when you spend time outside. On higher-pollen-count days, avoid going outside, especially in midday when it’s warmer and pollen levels tend to be at their highest. 2. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Antihistamines block the histamine your body makes. If your nose is stuffy,
decongestants can help you breathe easier. Some nasal sprays help allergy symptoms, too. OTC drugs will work for many, but should be taken in advance of symptoms getting bad, or even in advance of pollen exposure/season. 3. Prescription medication. If the OTC drugs don’t work, your doctor may prescribe prescription drugs and nasal sprays. Some prescribed medications block chemicals other than histamine that can trigger allergies. 4. Allergy immunotherapy. If you are not successful with medications, allergy immunotherapy may help. Allergen immunotherapy is a disease-modifying therapy that enables the patient’s immune system to develop a tolerance to the allergen exposure. It’s available in three forms: shots, drops and tablets. For shots, you’ll go to the allergist every few weeks for the doctor to inject a tiny amount of what’s causing your problem under your skin. After a period of months, your body should get used to the trigger and your symptoms should get better.
5. Wash your hair. Be sure to shower and wash your hair before going to bed. Your hair collects a lot of pollen, and if you don’t wash it out, it stays trapped next to your nose. 6. Keep windows closed. Keep cool with AC.