The snowstorm preceding the first day of spring might not show that the season is beginning, but itching eyes and runny noses could be just around the corner.
The end of the winter season usually means the start of a variety of allergy seasons, starting with tree pollen, according to Dr. Monica Vasudev, allergist and immunologist with Aurora Health Care. Tree pollen usually impacts northeast Wisconsin in March, April and May. Grass pollen starts floating around in May, while weeds release pollen in June.
“Ragweed has its own season,” Vasudev said. “It usually starts mid-August and goes until the first frost hits, the first hard frost.”
With trees being the first to bloom when they flower after winter hibernation, it helps to keep track of pollen counts online. At www.pollen.com, it shows that regional pollen counts were low to medium on March 20, the first day of spring, with the potential of juniper, alder and elm being the trees to bloom and spread the most allergens.
“If you have tree allergies or know someone who has tree allergies, you’re going to start noticing they have symptoms like itchy, watery eyes; stuffy nose; nasal itching; sneezing; runny nose; and post-nasal drip. They might show up with the allergic salute,” Vasudev said with a finger underneath her nose. “It could be a combination of all of those things that indicate the pollen counts are going up.”
Once people recognize they have certain allergies, the next step is prevention, followed by treatment if prevention is not enough. Vasudev recommended trying to avoid being outdoors when the pollen count is high.
“We know that pollen counts are lower in the morning before the dew dries,” she said. “When the pollen is out in the morning, it gets trapped in the dew and makes it heavier. It settles down. At the end of the day, it dries out and aerosolizes, so then you have a higher pollen count at the end of the day.”
If it is necessary to go outside when higher pollen counts are in effect, Vasudev said it’s best once returning indoors to shower and change clothes. She also recommended keeping windows closed and turning on air conditioning, which will reduce the humidity in the room.
“That (humidity) can also produce other allergens, such as mold,” Vasudev said.
Predicting exactly when pollen will hit a community can be difficult, Vasudev said.
“I always feel like every season is the worst season ever,” she said. “If you have a cold or viral infections, it can make your allergies feel worse. During spring break, when people catch colds, it can make your allergies feel worse.”
Warm, windy days can also worsen pollen spread, according to Vasudev, and the days when wildfire smoke hits the area can also spread pollen more.
Knowing what you’re allergic to can also help in planning preventative measures when it comes to medications, according to Vasudev. Steroid nose sprays, antihistamines and eye drops help with most allergy symptoms, she said, and they’re available over the counter, but some treatments can take up to two weeks to work. It is important to know what should be taken, so talking with a doctor or health official is recommended.
Vasudev said that seeing an allergist is best, but it should be facilitated through primary care doctors, as it’s not always easy or quick making appointments with specialists.
“There’s no right or wrong, but asking for help is always great,” Vasudev said. “There’s two ways to evaluate allergies. Obviously, there’s an exam, but there’s also a blood test that is accessible to many people. Seeing an allergist goes one step further where you can do skin testing.”
Skin testing helps to determine what someone is allergic to, which can be invaluable when it comes to strategizing preventative measures and when to implement them, Vasudev said.
Allergists can also offer allergy shots that allow people’s bodies to be more tolerant to pollen, but that’s a multi-year process and is only recommended in extreme cases, Vasudev said.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
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