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Allergy sufferers don't ever seem to catch a break. Hayfever might be a distant spring memory, but the season for ragweed allergy also known as allergic rhinitis, an inflammation of the respiratory tract and eyes from pollen sensitivity is now in full swing.
Dr. Nicholas Rummo, a board certified pulmonologist, internist and medical director of the respiratory department at Northern Westchester Hospital Center, dispenses plenty of tissues from late August to early October, when ragweed is a ubiquitous irritant. "Probably 10 to 15 percent of the population has a significant pollen allergy [an estimated 36 million Americans every year] and many more have occasional reactions," he says. The reactions, he says, usually begin between the ages of 9-11, but they can also appear later in life, although rarely after the age of 40. And if your parents ever suffered from allergic rhinitis, chances are you might also, as there is "a strong inherited component" to ragweed allergies, says Dr. Rummo. Symptoms, he says, include watery eyes, itching, sneezing and throat irritation.
While this year's abundant rain washed away a good deal of ragweed pollen from the air, Dr. Rummo mitigates the good news with a reality check: "All the moisture will increase mold growth, which is also a significant trigger for allergic reactions."
After a patient has been diagnosed with a pollen allergy, says Dr. Rummo, "Treatment should begin with avoiding inciting agents as much as possible." He adds that patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis frequently react to animal dander and dust mites, therefore the interior of a sufferer's home should be as free as possible from irritants as possible. Additionally, says Dr. Rummo, "Exercise and physical fitness are very helpful in maintaining the airways in a healthy state, and adequate water intake helps thin mucus."
Medications in the form of both prescription and over the counter antihistamines (Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec among them) are often used for treatment, but for worsening symptoms, Dr. Rummo says allergists can prescribe nasal steroids. Allergy desensitization in the form of allergy shots can be helpful when the problem is moderately severe and does not respond well to brief courses of medication, he adds.
Dr. Rummo says allergic diseases seem to be increasing in frequency, but the reasons for the rise are unclear. Among the culprits, he says, might be too-frequent use of antibiotics, as bodies' "internal bacteria" can change as a result of overuse. Obesity and lack of exercise might aggravate allergic symptoms as well.
It might be difficult season of ragweed, but still, the warm weather sure beats the next season: flu.
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