Pollen season comes on strong for allergy sufferers

Pollen season comes on strong for allergy sufferers

For Michelle Primack of Alexandria, Va., the change this year has been obvious. Allergic to trees, grass, pollens and mold, Primack says she has dealt with a constant post-nasal drip and frequent sinus headaches since mid-February, six weeks earlier than in past years.

"Some mornings I would wake up and feel like I was sick, but I realized my head is just swollen, rather than stuffed up," said Primack, 40, a policy adviser with the U.S. Department of Energy.

"It never really got cold enough to freeze the ground. I don't feel like I ever got a break."

A broad area "from Texas through the Midwest, South and East has had a much warmer winter than usual," says Kraig Jacobson, of Eugene, Ore., an allergist and a committee chairman of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, which oversees a network of pollen-counting stations across the USA.

Exercise at the right time. Pollen counts are highest in the morning and midday, so do outdoor activities in the very early morning or later in the day, recommends allergist Stanley Fineman.

Track pollen counts. The National Allergy Bureau has a network of pollen-count stations across the USA. It offers e-mail alerts and a new mobile app that lets users track pollen counts in their areas. For details, see the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website (www.aaaai.org).

Minimize exposure. Sunglasses can block the pollen from your eyes; frequent handwashing and regular air conditi oning can help lessen your exposure to allergens.

Watery eyes? You dont have to look bad while dealing with allergies. Wear waterproof mascara, advises style blogger Jackeline Stewart. Its a must for women with allergies.

With trees blooming earlier and more pollen in the air, allergy sufferers are feeling earlier symptoms: nasal congestion, sneezing, eye itching and watering, says Atlanta allergist Stanley Fineman, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

"They have the reaction, then get re-exposed to it, and their body is primed, or ramped up, and they get an even more severe reaction to the pollen than usual."

Is it really an allergy?

Over-the-counter antihistamines and eye drops can bring some relief, but both Jacobson and Fineman recommend seeing an allergy doctor to determine the exact cause of the problem. "Fi rst, we have to make sure it's an allergy and testing can uncover that," says Fineman.

Only about 30 of adults have real allergies, Jacobson says. "One of the biggest myths I hear is that 'everybody' has allergies. At least as many people have other forms of rhinitis (inflamed nasal membranes) that are exacerbated by the pollen in the air or an irritant basis." People who have allergy antibodies in reaction to pollen, or an odor or fume at a low level have true allergies, but "even people who are non-allergic can have symptoms when pollen levels get very high."

Once it is known exactly what sets you off, the allergist can prescribe nasal sprays and other remedies as well as recommend over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops or a nasal rinse system, such as a neti pot, that rinses the inside of the nose with water, sometimes mixed with salt.

"People come in with runny noses, conges tion, sneezing and frequently have tearing or itchy eyes," says Fineman. "It can be very debilitating. People's ability to function can be affected."

If these treatments don't help, the next step is immunotherapy. These are frequent injections that help patients build up a tolerance to their specific allergens and can help lessen the symptoms. The regimen can last up to five years.

Primack had injections every two weeks for five years, and says they were effective, but required a 30-minute wait in the doctor's office, to ensure she didn't have rare but severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, which can cause throat swelling, nausea, and dizziness.

Shots were time-consuming

She stopped the shots soon after her son, now 3, was born. Between the long commute to her former allergist's office and the wait time, Primack says it just wasn't feasible.

But her allergies remain fierce. She takes over-the-counter Zyrtec year-round, and at night takes Benadryl, which makes her drowsy. But these aren't enough this season. " I need to get a new local allergist" and begin shots again, she says.

Jackeline Stewart of Washington, D.C., co-founder of style website lookacute.com, has dealt with an extremely runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes since February. "Pollen, ragweed, the whole nine. It's kind of embarrassing. You want to be in a professional setting, and I have to excuse myself to bathrooms to fix myself up."

Stewart, 27, takes a daily antihistamine plus a prescription nasal spray. Her allergies have progressed to asthma, so she also uses two inhalers daily. While shots have been recommended, "I'm not a fan of needles," she says.

As many as half of t hose with significant allergies may also have asthma, though high-pollen season may be the only time of year the asthma acts up, Jacobson says.

"My doctor told me to move, but how realistic is that?" Stewart says. "This is where I live and I don't want to leave." But "I would like to be able to enjoy going out for a walk or sit in the park for lunch without worrying about sneezing or coughing or having an asthma attack."