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Bartlett, IL —
As flu season melts with the snow, another unwanted nuisance emerges: allergies.
Allergy season, which began in March and lasts through November, consists of both spring and fall allergies, according to Kevin Hulett, an ear, nose and throat doctor for Midwest ENT Consultants.
Hulett said most spring allergies are the result of pollen from trees and grasses.
While Hulett said it’s hard to predict what this year’s allergy season will look like, he said climate is a major factor.
“A lot of it has to do with the weather,” Hulett said. “It depends on whether a particular grass, tree or weed is blossoming. If it is producing pollen, it’s going to be worse for those individuals that are allergic.”
Pollen counts are usually highest on windy or humid days when it’s released and spread through the air.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 75 percent of all springtime allergies stem from ragweed.
One ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains.
Those who are allergic to certain types of pollen or weeds might see their symptoms kicked into overdrive.
Common allergy symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes and skin.
Stacy Arriola, a community health nurse for Hanover Township — who also works for Allergy and Asthma Specialists in Lombard — said for those who want to treat their symptoms with medication, there are several over-the-counter antihistamine medicines that are effective, including Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra.
She said if those don’t provide relief, a doctor might recommend a nasal spray or prescribe antihistamine eye drops.
“It’s better to find out what you’re allergic to,” Arriola said. “If you want to find out, that’s when you go to the allergist and they’ll do a skin test. Once you find out what you’re allergic to, you can possibly change your environment and that might help your relief.”
But Arriola warned allergy shots are not always a quick fix and it can take up to a year after receiving them for symptoms to resolve because the shots must build up in your system.
Allergy shots are typically given every three days initially and then are administered every week to every couple of weeks to every month for several months.
“It’s a really long process and it’s to help build up that tolerance,” said Arriola, who added patients should try not to miss weeks. “If you’re sick, you can’t get allergy shots because it can cause a severe allergic reaction.”
Traditionally, doctors test patients by administering allergy shots. But Hulett said there’s a small movement toward sublingual therapy, a type of treatment that’s given under the tongue.
“Shots are very good, effective treatments, but sublingual therapy is becoming more and more of an accepted treatment over the last few years,” he said. “It can even be done at home.”
As flu season melts with the snow, another unwanted nuisance emerges: allergies.
Allergy season, which began in March and lasts through November, consists of both spring and fall allergies, according to Kevin Hulett, an ear, nose and throat doctor for Midwest ENT Consultants.
Hulett said most spring allergies are the result of pollen from trees and grasses.
While Hulett said it’s hard to predict what this year’s allergy season will look like, he said climate is a major factor.
“A lot of it has to do with the weather,” Hulett said. “It depends on whether a particular grass, tree or weed is blossoming. If it is producing pollen, it’s going to be worse for those individuals that are allergic.”
Pollen counts are usually highest on windy or humid days when it’s released and spread through the air.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 75 percent of all springtime allergies stem from ragweed.
One ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains.
Those who are allergic to certain types of pollen or weeds might see their symptoms kicked into overdrive.
Common allergy symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes and skin.
Stacy Arriola, a community health nurse for Hanover Township — who also works for Allergy and Asthma Specialists in Lombard — said for those who want to treat their symptoms with medication, there are several over-the-counter antihistamine medicines that are effective, including Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra.
She said if those don’t provide relief, a doctor might recommend a nasal spray or prescribe antihistamine eye drops.
“It’s better to find out what you’re allergic to,” Arriola said. “If you want to find out, that’s when you go to the allergist and they’ll do a skin test. Once you find out what you’re allergic to, you can possibly change your environment and that might help your relief.”
But Arriola warned allergy shots are not always a quick fix and it can take up to a year after receiving them for symptoms to resolve because the shots must build up in your system.
Allergy shots are typically given every three days initially and then are administered every week to every couple of weeks to every month for several months.
“It’s a really long process and it’s to help build up that tolerance,” said Arriola, who added patients should try not to miss weeks. “If you’re sick, you can’t get allergy shots because it can cause a severe allergic reaction.”
Traditionally, doctors test patients by administering allergy shots. But Hulett said there’s a small movement toward sublingual therapy, a type of treatment that’s given under the tongue.
“Shots are very good, effective treatments, but sublingual therapy is becoming more and more of an accepted treatment over the last few years,” he said. “It can even be done at home.”
