Tips for Allergies

Tips for Seasonal Allergy Sufferers

If you’re among the 35 million-plus people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s not news to you that the allergy season has arrived early in many parts of the country – especially in Southern California. Your nose knows it’s true and so do your eyes, chest, head and maybe even your ears. Sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness are common symptoms of allergic rhinitis (commonly referred to as “hay fever”.)

This Spring’s burst of color -- a spectacular display of buds and blossoms -- comes hand-in-hand with a bumper crop of airborne pollens and mold spores, due in part to winter’s heavy rains and higher than normal temperatures.

“There’s no doubt that nature has created a wonderful greenhouse effect this year,” says Zab Mosenifar, MD, Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “The heavy rains and higher temperatures have produced an impressive growth of vegetation which is wonderful to enjoy if you don’t have allergies. But if you have a history of allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma (the most common type of asthma), you need to be careful in terms of when and where you exercise during this season.”

Both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma can be triggered by allergens such as pollen and mold. “While allergic rhinitis is an annoying condition, allergic asthma is more serious and can be life-threatening,” explains Dr. Mosenifar.

In allergic asthma, allergens cause the passages in the airways to become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe. In allergic rhinitis, the mucous membranes in the nose become inflamed, causing sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness in the roof of the mouth, throat, eyes, nose and ears.

It’s almost impossible to hide from pollen and mold since both are carried by wind currents. While pollens are only found outdoors, molds are found both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor molds can be found in soil, vegetation and rotting wood; you’ll find indoor molds in bathrooms, attics, carpets, upholstery and garbage containers ?? and in any moist area.

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