Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Yesterday, my allergies went crazy and all afternoon I was miserable..today not that bad. Why the difference?

I believe that I have seasonal allergies. I took a claritin and then took some more allergy medicine later and basically passed out. I'm just curious what causes seaonal allergies and what some good remedies are for it? Also, is there a way to know in advance if the air outside will be bad for allergies? I'm assuming that seasonal allergies are due to pollen and mold in the air. Maybe someone with more expertise in this field could kindly go in to detail about it for me. Thanks.

Yesterday, my allergies went crazy and all afternoon I was miserable..today not that bad. Why the difference?
It depends on how much and what type of pollen is in the air. The more pollen in the air, the worse your symptoms will be. That is, if you're allergic to that particular type. I believe The Weather Channel website has a link for pollen/allergens.
Reply:Seasonal allergies happen when people are allergic to allergens that are only around during certain seasons. In spring leaves open and tree pollen is everywhere. Since I'm allergic to tree pollen I'm very aware of the timing. I had a lot of trouble starting yesterday as well. Daffodils can bloom, crocuses sprout, etc, but when the leaves come out I'm in agony.



Rain sometimes keeps tree pollen out of the air by running it down the drain. So wet weather can help with tree pollen allergies.



See your doctor. I used to take Claritin, but now I take Nasonex, which helps. I also take Allegra, both are available by prescription. There are lots of medications available. Find one that works for you.
Reply:Brian: Since you have not been properly diagnosed by an allergist or immunologist, you are only guessing at what is going on. If in fact you have seasonal rhinitis (allergy) then your symptoms will be present when the pollens to which you react are present.

If you are in the U.S., you can check out Pollen.Com to get your local pollen forecast. Generally spring is the time for tree pollen, summer the time for grass pollen, and fall the time for weed pollen. The best method of control for all allergies is avoidance. That means knowing exactly which pollens cause an allergic reaction and then avoiding them. The second part of allergy control is immunotherapy and the third is medication. Pollen counts are highest early in the morning and on windy days. They are lowest just after a rain. If you have to be outside on high pollen count days, come in as soon as possible, take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothes. This is because your body, hair and clothing will be loaded with pollen and you are just going to spread it all over your house. Same goes for pets. They carry pollen in on their fur so keep them inside as much as possible. Keep doors and windows closed. If you must have a window open, you can get these special screens (I will give you a link) but it is best to keep them closed. Some people believe that taking a spoonful of local honey will act as a natural immunotherapy. The problem is that the pollens that cause allergy are white, very light, and air-borne....the pollens to which bees are attracted are heavy, yellow, and waxy, so bees really don't visit the allergy causing plants. If you need to take a pill, loratadine is good at blocking histamine without sedating side effects. Some people also like to rinse with a neti pot, but that only takes care of any pollen in the nasal passages. you can prevent inhaling pollen by wearing a mask. I hope that is enough detail...if it is not, I can give more :o)


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