Health

Sniffling

THROUGH SEASONAL ALLERGIES

Written by Jennifer Watson, MN, FNP-C

Pollen allergy season is well underway. In our area, tree pollen season starts early to mid-March with cedar trees pollinating. Cedar is cross reactive with the all familiar Arborvitae which is frequently used in landscaping. Then trees like Cottonwood, Poplar, Birch, Alder, Oak, and Maple pollinate.

Currently we are in the middle of grass pollen season. While we can see the abundant, all too familiar, yellowgreen pine pollen, fortunately this pollen is not very allergenic. That being said, when we see pine pollen, rest assured there is a cause for your allergy symptoms: grass pollen. Northern grasses are highly cross-reactive. So, if you’re allergic to one northern grass, you will very likely react to all northern grasses including Kentucky Bluegrass, Timothy grass, Meadow fescue and Orchard. Grass pollen season is mid-May to mid-July.

Another way to know your symptoms are due to grass pollen season is when we see Cottonwood seed flying about. The Cottonwood seed is just that - seed. Cottonwood trees pollinate earlier, in about April. Grass pollen cannot be seen by the naked eye, but Pine pollen and Cottonwood seed can. So when you see these yellowgreen pine pollen and Cottonwood seed, know that grass pollen is out and likely the cause of your allergy symptoms. Weed pollen season starts middle to end of July and ends in the fall after we have a few good frosts. While avoidance measures are key to limiting exposures to allergens, this is a challenge given most of us enjoy being outdoors. When you come in from being outside, it’s helpful to change your clothes and shower to rinse off any pollen from your skin and hair. Pollen counts tend to be highest in the early morning hours, so if you sleep with your windows open it may be helpful to close the windows by 4am and go on your jog in the cool evening hours.

There are a variety of medications available over the counter to treat allergies. Nasal steroid sprays are best effective when taken consistently on a daily basis. One common brand is Flonase. Ideally this medication would be started a week ahead of when pollen-related allergy symptoms typically begin. For example, if grass pollen season is your most problematic time of year, then start the nasal steroid spray no later than the last week of April. OTC less/non-sedating, 24 hour, antihistamines are available brand name and generic and include Zyrtec, Clartin, Allegra and Xyzal. Benadryl can cause sedation and is best effective when taken every 4-6 hours, so I generally advise use of a 24 hour low to non-sedating antihistamine such as Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra or Xyzal.

Eye drops are helpful for itchy, watery eyes, Pataday and Zaditor are great options.

Allergy evaluation can include lab work to determine which allergens a person is allergic to and better guide treatment. The standard laboratory allergy panel looks for allergy to dust mites, animal dander like cat and dog, mold, and pollen (tree, grass, weeds). Allergy specialty clinics can apply skin prick tests as another modality of evaluation. Small amounts of allergen are introduced to the patient’s skin and a positive reaction will look like a mosquito bite. Long term control of allergies can be obtained with allergen immunotherapy, commonly referred to as “allergy shots.” This is a desensitization process which is quite effective at reducing symptoms when one is exposed to allergens.

Jennifer works at Active Family Healthcare and is a certified family nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and has over 20 years of serving our local community.