|
6B Ahh-Choooooooooooo! How bad will
this hurt: Devin Diehl, Greencastle,
receives an allergy shot Wednesday at the Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology Center in Hagerstown,
Md.
Allergy season is here, and many local residents are clutching Kleenex and inhalers or popping pills to get some relief. Suzanne Resetar, Carlisle, moved to the area from Western Pennsylvania in October. She took a job in Chambersburg and began commuting in November. While driving Intestate 81 around Shippensburg, her eyes began watering and she started to sneeze. The fit always passed by the time she got to Chambersburg, and she never experienced it at home. "I don't know if there was something stored in the grain silos there," Resetar said. Resetar is not alone. Approximately 25% of Americans are allergic to something, said Dr. Paul Mauriello, an allergist who practices in Scotland. "Allergy is an immune reaction where patients will react to things in the environment for reasons that don't really matter," Mauriello said. "The common environmental allergens that people will react to are biological products or materials, pollen, mold spores, animals and house dust mites." Common environmental allergens travel through the air, so people inhale them and the allergens cause problems where they land - in the nose, respiratory tract and the eyes. About half of the people who are affected by allergies will get asthma, which is the body's immune response for the lungs and respiratory tract. Asthma can be chronic or episodic, severe or mild, or anywhere in between, Mauriello said. Depending on what a person reacts to, allergies can strike in different seasons or can occur year-round. Spring can start as early as February for some, when a tree makes pollen before it buds. "Oak pollen is usually the worst," Mauriello said. Around Memorial Day, grass begins producing the pollen some people will react to. In August, weeds and ragweed begin making life difficult for some. Ragweed lasts until the first frost. Rain can solve and cause problems for allergy sufferers. While rain clears the pollen and other airborne things from the air, it also helps plants produce pollen and other matter grow. Mauriello has not seen many patients who moved to the area and began having allergy problems. "If you compare pollen counts, they're not extraordinary," Mauriello said. There are those in the medical community who disagree. "I think it's because Pennsylvania has four seasons," said Dr. Dave Hoffmann, director of Keystone Health Center.
In dry climates such as Arizona, there are not as many people suffering from allergies, Hoffmann said. Paula Hamilton, a certified registered nurse practitioner at Keystone, said she has seen many patients who move into the county and begin having problems with allergies. "It's always been a problem in this area," Hamilton said. "People just come in and there are different kinds of trees and pollen here." Many of her patients come to see her in the spring, she said. They have congested noses and itchy, watery eyes. This spring was better than last year though, perhaps due to the rain, Hamilton said. Poor air quality is another factor contributing to the allergy problem, especially for those who have asthma, Hamilton said. Environmental Protection Agency studies have shown that Franklin County's air has more smog than other cities. During the winter, Resetar had less of a problem with her drive, but it began again around the middle of April and lasted until about the end of May. Before moving to this part of Pennsylvania, she had not had problems with allergies for several years. To ease her symptoms, Resetar took an over-the-counter medication. While it didn't get to the point she sought medical help, Resetar said if her allergic reactions get any worse, she will see a doctor. Allergic reactions can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the severity of the reaction, Mauriello said. Many prescription medications are available that do not have a sedative effect like some over-the-counter medications. If the allergy medication a family doctor prescribes is not working, it may be time for a person to see an allergist, Mauriello said. Also, those with allergies can make changes to his or her environment to avoid allergens. For example, someone allergic to pollen or ragweed should stay indoors with the windows closed and the air conditioning on, Hoffmann and Mauriello said. That will cut down on the amount of pollen a person is exposed to. Someone who has a pet, but is allergic to the pet may want to consider finding a new home for it. People allergic to dust mites should focus on eliminating them from their bedroom, since the most time is spent there, Mauriello said. Washing the bed linens in hot water once a week can help. Allergy covers for the mattress, box springs and pillows are available a department stores. The covers can be expensive, and are not for everyone. "People shouldn't get them unless they're sure that's the problem," Mauriello said. Doctors can test patients to determine what causes an allergic reaction. If prescription medication is not effective, allergy shot programs are the last step, Mauriello said. Vincent Facchini, Shippensburg, had to have allergy shots when he was younger. He also took one of the first antihistamines, or medications to suppress the allergic reaction. Like Resetar, over time his allergies lessened. "I have seasonal allergies to dust and mold. It's mostly sneezing and occasionally watery eyes," Facchini said. Facchini also has reactions when the trees begin pollinating. He uses drops to help stop his eyes from watering, but does not buy over-the-counter medicines for his sneezing and occasional runny nose. Facchini said he did not like the medicines that made him tired, a common side effect. "In the last 20 years there's been a real increase, (in the number of people reporting allergy problems)," Hoffmann said. "And no one knows why." Emily Phelps can be reached at 262-4754 or ephelps@mail.pubop.com. |
The
area is more humid, which allows mold to grow.
|
|