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Time Well Spent
Sniffles no more: How to breeze through spring allergies
By Honor Hawkins
Spring in the Lowcountry promises sunshine, azaleas, The Family Circle Cup and a proliferation of Ohio license plates. For many of us, though, it brings a little more: stuffy noses and itchy, watery eyes. Seasonal allergies strike again.
If it seems like most of your coworkers complain of allergies these days, it’s because most of them do.
More than 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, also known as “hay fever,” according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
“We’re quite busy this time of year,” says Dr. Andrew Davidson of Allergy and Asthma Consultants.
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to triggers, called allergens. Thanks to its high pollen count, Charleston is a mecca for these triggers this time of year. Last year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked Charleston 41 on a list of the 100 “Spring Allergy Capitals” (Greenville ranked 19).
Oak, birch and walnut pollen run rampant these days. Pollens are microscopic granules that enable plant fertilization. Blooming plants, like roses, attract bees to carry pollen, but trees and grasses rely on wind; it’s their powdery pollens that send you to the tissue box, or to the inhaler.
In addition to the nasal symptoms, allergies are associated with shortness of breath, wheezing and difficulty breathing. “Patients with allergies are at an increased risk of developing asthma,” says Davidson.
If you have allergies, you are also more prone to developing sinusitis, inflammation or infection of the sinuses.
It’s no surprise that work performance can suffer when allergy triggers invade. “Many experts believe allergies can cause fatigue,” says Davidson.
“Allergy symptoms can disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness. This can affect productivity, alertness and energy.”
Headaches—caused by swollen membranes in the nose and swollen sinuses—are hazardous to concentration, too.
If you suffer from the symptoms above, and if you’ve noticed an onslaught in the last few weeks, you could have hay fever. With all the treatment options, however, there is no reason to tough it out.
Talk to your doctor first; he or she can make a firm diagnosis and edit the abundant options to pick your best treatment, which may be a cocktail of allergy meds.
Over-the-counter medicines typically are classified as decongestants or antihistamines. Some will make you feel like you’ve pulled an all-nighter; your doctor can advise.
Prescription meds, including nasal sprays (inhaled corticosteroids), can field a terrific offense, but require consistent compliance for best results.
If relief seems fleeting, or you’re one of those people who carry emergency handkerchiefs or tissues year-round, an allergist/immunologist may prescribe a series of immunological shots.
Davidson advises his patients to sidestep some misery by practicing avoidance measures. Here are a few tips endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology:
• Spring clean. Make sure office windows, bookshelves and air conditioning vents are free from dust and mold that collect during winter.
• Walk or jog after work. Pollen counts are highest between 5 and 10 a.m.
• Close windows. Open windows are a welcome-mat for pollen. Keep office and car windows closed.
• Use air conditioning. It cleans, cools and dries air.
• Minimize indoor plants. Indoor plants can harbor mold, especially if you over-water them.
• Take medicine as directed. Some allergy medicine is designed to prevent inflammation; taking it sporadically may not help.
• Skip the yard work. Or wear a mask. Mowing and raking stirs up pollen and mold.
With a little avoidance and sensible treatment, spring in the Lowcountry doesn’t have to mean misery for allergy sufferers.
As for coping with out-of-state drivers, however, you’re on your own.
To track local pollen counts, visit www.pollen.com.
Honor Hawkins is a Charleston-based freelance writer.
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