May Flowers May Bring Allergies

Whether it’s sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, nasal drainage, congestion or the vast array of other symptoms, spring often equates with misery for allergy sufferers.

Ah, it’s springtime again. With warmer weather comes spring cleaning, blooming trees and green grass. The seasonal change also means the beginning of allergy season for numerous people. Whether it’s sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, nasal drainage, congestion or the vast array of other symptoms, spring often equates with misery for allergy sufferers.  

More than 40 million people throughout the United States experience indoor and outdoor allergies. Allergies vary based on what area of the country you live, and they can be seasonal or persist year-round. Many people have allergy symptoms that are present year-round but show heightened severity during certain seasons. So what exactly is triggering your allergy symptoms?  

This time of year is often designated for cleaning out closets, attics and garages. Spring cleaning may be the time when you see an increase in symptoms. If so, you could be allergic to dust mites, house dust, mold or cockroaches.

Spring is also tree season, one of the most common allergy aggravators. Trees are the earliest pollen producers, with some blooming as early as January and as late as May. Although you may feel you aren’t exposed to many trees on or near your property, tree pollen has been found as far as thirty miles away from the original source.  

Green grass begins to grow during spring, and it is another common cause of allergy symptoms from the months of May through October. The region where you live, time of day, temperature outside and even rain can affect grass pollens. Some of the most common grasses in Oklahoma are Bermuda, Timothy and Johnson.

Weeds are another problem for many allergy sufferers. They are some of the most prolific producers of pollens and are known to be most prominent July through November. Ragweed is one of the more common weeds and usually peaks around mid-September. Weeds’ pollen counts are highest on hot, dry, windy days.

Some allergens are year-round, with no seasonal peaks. These include molds, dust mites, house dust, cockroaches, pet dander and foods.  These allergens can be affected by weather conditions, the environment in which you live and what you are eating.  

In addition, your body's response to several environmental allergens can worsen with the foods you eat. For example, if you are allergic to Timothy grass, eating an apple may intensify your allergic reaction. “This is called cross-reactivity,” explains Mark Welch, the premiere otolaryngic allergist at the Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Center. To find out more about cross-reactivity or other allergy topics, visit www.entallergycenter.com

Are you one of the millions being affected by allergens? Do you have allergies during specific seasons or symptoms that persist year-round?  If you think you have allergies, visit your local allergy specialists. By conducting a thorough history of your health and by performing allergy testing, they will help you identify which allergens are provoking your symptoms and help prepare a treatment plan suitable for your lifestyle.  The experts at the Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Center would be thrilled to help minimize your allergy suffering this year.

For more information, contact

Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Center

(918) 341-5088

www.entallergycenter.com