Allergies could be Your problem

by Elaine K. Jones, M.D.

Allergies cause a lot of suffering and expense. One in six suffer from allergies, causing more than 3.5 million days lost annually from work and two million days missed from school. This does not count the days of low productivity. More than $1.5 billion is spent each year on treatment of allergy.

Allergy is an overreaction of your immune system to a substance that is considered harmless. The most common allergies are hayfever, asthma, and hives. There is a link between these allergies and inner ear infections and sinusitis.

Hayfever causes swelling and irritation of the nasal passages, sinus cavities, ears, eyes and throat. The allergic substance inhaled makes the cells in your nose secrete chemicals such as histamine, which trigger sneezing, nose blockage, runny nose, itchy nose, throat, eyes, ears, or skin, and a cough.

Allergies may be seasonal or continual. Seasonal hayfever occurs during pollen seasons in spring, summer, and fall. The peak season is February through October. The major seasonal causes are ragweed, grasses, and trees. The particles causing the symptoms are less than the width of a human hair. These microscopic particles are the egg-shaped male cells of flowering plants needed for plant fertilization. Weather conditions affect the amount of pollen in the air. Rainy and windless weather doesn't allow much pollen movement but hot, dry, and windy weather does.

To lessen season hayfever:

* Keep windows of the car and home closed and stay indoors when pollen count is high or in windy weather.

* Don't hang clothing or sheets outside to dry.

* Keep early morning activity minimal until 10 a.m. since pollen is emitted during early morning hours.

* Shower or bathe before bed to wash off the pollens.

* Avoid mowing the lawn, being around freshly cut grass, raking leaves, or cleaning the rain gutters unless a special filter mask is worn.

Continual hayfever, known as perennial allergic rhinitis, is usually caused by indoor substances as house dust, animal dander, dust mites, and mold spores. Unfortunately all these are found in household items such as mattress stuffing, pillows, quilts, furniture, and carpets. Often they are worse in the winter months when everything is sealed tightly. Dust mites are microscopic insects that feed on dead skin scales shed by humans and pets. It is the mite waste products which set off the allergic reaction.

To lessen continual allergies:

* Remove carpeting when possible. Best a low pile carpet or washable area rugs.

* Dust and vacuum twice weekly with vacuum cleaners with special HEPA filters. The best type vacuum is a central one with exhaust out of the home.

* Wood and washable furniture as leather is preferred.

* Best to avoid wallpaper.

* Use air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep humidity levels under 50 percent.

* Have mattresses, box springs, and pillows in air-tight covers.

* Use bedding that can be washed weekly in HOT water of 130 degrees.

* Avoid feather pillows, down comforters, and wool blankets.

* Avoid shower curtains and non-washable drapes.

* Use the exhaust fan to ventilate bathrooms.

* Avoid clutter of magazines, objects, and stuffed animals.

* Vents from an air conditioner or furnace should have filters.

* Repair leaking of pipes, roofs, and windows.

* Avoid warm-blooded animals in the home. Approved are turtles, tropical fish, iguanas, and snakes. None should have fur or feathers. If kept in the home, wash at least one weekly with shampoo and water. Avoid pets in the bedroom. Wash your hands after touching pets.

Treating allergies starts with avoiding things that cause them. The scratch or prick test on the skin is done when it is not clear what sets off your allergies. There are many prescription and non-prescription allergy medicines in pills, liquid, nasal sprays, and eye drops. They include antihistamines, decongestants, local steroids, cromolyn and other mast cell stabilizers which stop the allergy reaction from happening. Best results are obtained by preventing the allergy symptoms rather than trying to get rid of them. Consideration is given to allergy shots when medicines are not controlling the allergies. Allergy shots help your body gradually stop reacting to allergens. This process is done one or two times weekly with gradual increase in dose. Often the shots are done over three to five years.

Further information on allergies and pollen counts from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is at 1-800-9-POLLEN or http://www.aaaai.org

Elaine K. Jones, M.D. practices in Manhattan Beach at 855 Manhattan Beach Blvd. She can be reached at (310)939-7847.