Dealing with Fall Allergies

5Things to Know

ABOUT FALL ALLERGIES

As summer cools into fall, we can say goodbye to grass allergens and hello to ragweed. Fall allergy season is upon us, so we sat down with board-certified allergist Lorelei Bourla, MD, to learn more about minimizing these pesky symptoms. Dr. Bourla is spearheading Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Wilton, where she diagnoses and treats people of all ages. She says the most significant allergen in the fall is weed pollen, like ragweed, which actually started rising in August this year. The level of allergens in any season is dependent on the season before, which affects a plant’s reproduction of pollen. Typically, tree pollens are highest in spring, grass pollens in summer, and weed pollens in fall. Seasonal allergies can affect any age group, so if your toddler seems to have a cold but no fever, be sure to ask the pediatrician if it’s time to consult an allergist. “The mainstay for any allergy treatment is avoidance, such as staying away from pets with dander or not eating that strawberry,” Dr. Bourla says. “Seasonal allergies are harder to avoid, since they are in the air we breathe. So we try the next best thing, managing your symptoms so you can get through your day. If nothing else works, you may want to consider allergy shots.”

BEFORE HAVING TO RESORT TO ALLERGY SHOTS, DR. BOURLA OFFERS THESE TIPS:

Identify your triggers. Make notes of when and Get an allergy test. Knowing whethwhere your symptoms begin. Did they happen last er it’s weeds, mold, dust mites, or year at this time? Do they flare up more often when some other allergen can help identify 1 petting the dog or doing yard work? Share this information with your allergist. Prepare for school allergens. 2 which treatment works best for you. Fall can be challenging for children who are allergic to classroom pets, or foods others bring to class. Make sure your child’s school and your child know what to do should an asthma or allergic

3incident occur.

Start your treatment before the season

Pay attention to the weather. High humidity starts. If you are using over-the-counter can encourage mold growth. Windy days can non-sedating antihistamines or intranasal bring allergens from many miles away into steroids, be sure to use them every morning your backyard. Heavy rains can aerosolize before you leave for the day. Starting your 4 allergens from the ground. Weather reports often provide pollen count levels along with daily forecasts. 5 regimen before your symptoms hit can help you better enjoy your fall, whether you are hiking, horseback riding, leaf-peeping, or just playing outside.

Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Allergy and Clinical Immunology is located on Saratoga Hospital’s Wilton campus at 3044 Route 50 in Saratoga Springs, NY. You can make an appointment with Dr. Bourla at 518-886-5814.

SARATOGA FAMILY | FALL 2020 On-Line Learning Puts High Demands on the Visual System

WRITTEN BY CHAD A. VAUGHN O.D., OPTOMETRIST, VAUGHN VISION

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, students around the country have been forced to increase their daily use of high-tech, digital devices and the latest computer applications. While these devices can greatly enhance learning, they also enhance the demands of the visual system and increase the importance of proper eye and vision care. Doctors and researchers today are largely focused on two issues that arise from our ever-growing screen time: Digital eye strain and the newest hot topic of blue light exposure. Prolonged use of computers can cause eye strain, headaches, fatigue, burning or tired eyes, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain. The American Optometric Association has labeled this Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS occurs when eye or vision problems are experienced during or related to using digital devices.

HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM STRAIN WHILE ON COMPUTERS:

• Sit about 25 inches (arm’s length) from the computer screen. Position the screen so you are gazing slightly downward. • Reduce screen glare by using a matte screen filter if needed. • Take regular breaks using the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. • When your eyes feel dry, use artificial tears to refresh them. • Adjust your room lighting and try increasing the contrast on your screen to reduce eye strain. • Remember to blink • If you wear contact lenses, occasionally give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses.

Blue light is low wavelength high energy light that is emitted by computer screens. There is evidence that some kinds of light exposure can cause eye damage under certain conditions. For instance, too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun does raise the risks of eye diseases, including cataracts, growths on the eye and cancer. However, the amount of radiation coming from a computer has never been demonstrated to cause any eye disease. A study reprinted by the National Library of Medicine found no measurable UVA or UVB radiation from computer monitors. UV radiation is the most harmful part of sunlight for eyes and skin. The Radiation Protection Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology summarizes current research about computer monitors’ radiation by saying that “there are no data to suggest a health risk from exposure to the electromagnetic fields associated with the use of monitors.” Long hours staring at digital screens can cause eye strain, and decreased blinking associated with computer use can cause dry eyes. But these effects are caused by how people use their screens, not by anything coming from the screens. The fact is that we get 10x as much blue light exposure from the sun than we do from digital devices. Blue Light has been shown to disrupt circadian rhythm. The blue light that is emitted from screens can delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin, increase alertness, and reset the body’s internal clock (or circadian rhythm) to a later schedule. This is an especially big problem for teens whose circadian rhythms are already shifting naturally, causing them to feel awake later at night. Consider these effects good reasons to impose a digital curfew on your kids. Have them power down their electronics, including the TV, an hour or two before bedtime so their bodies can start producing more melatonin. It is also important to keep in mind, a school vision screening, while helpful, is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye examination. Screenings vary in scope and are not designed to detect many visual problems that can significantly impact tasks like reading where more than clarity of vision is needed. So as the first day of school is quickly approaching, and most parents are busily making their way through a list of “todos”: shopping for school clothes, making appointments for immunizations and physicals, trips to the store for pencils, pens, paper and all the other “must-haves” for the classroom. An appointment with your optometrist should be on the list to make sure your child’s eyes are ready for increased demands on their visual system seen in today’s new on-line classrooms.