It’s Time of the Season for Hay Fever Victims

It’s hay fever season again.

But you hardly need to be reminded if you’re among the estimated 20% of Americans with pollen allergies. That means eyeballs that itch, noses that run and stuffed-up heads that feel about ready to explode.

The symptoms probably showed up in the San Fernando Valley during the past couple of weeks, brought on by the recent spell of unusually warm and sometimes windy weather.

So far, allergy experts say the pollen levels in the air are normal for this time of year. But it is still early and for many people the worst is yet to come.

Even so, this year’s sneezing season may turn out to be milder than last year’s. The heavy winter rains last year made trees and plants grow like crazy. By comparison, this past winter was dry.

“As near as I can tell, it looks like a normal hay fever season,” said Zeb Dyer, an allergy researcher at the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic. “But it all depends on the weather from here on out.

“Rain would help wash some of these pollens out of the air,” he said. “But if we have a lot of dry, windy days dispersing pollen all over the place, there are going to be a lot of sick people.”

Some allergy sufferers are having a harder time of it this year because of the Northridge earthquake. Aftershocks from the Jan. 17 temblor continue to kick up lots of dust to irritate already sore noses.

Dr. Donald L. Unger, an allergist who practices in Thousand Oaks, added that molds, growing in damp cracks of quake-damaged homes and offices, are also a problem.

“Several of my patients who are mold-sensitive are having a heck of a time,” Unger said.

Currently, pollinating trees are the biggest problem for most people, especially the Arizona cypress, coast live oak and olive.

But far more hay fever sufferers are allergic to pollen manufactured by grasses, such as false ragweed and other relatives of the best-known hay fever producer, Bermuda grass, Timothy grass and fescue.

And grasses won’t begin pollinating in earnest for another couple of weeks.

By then, “people with asthma will also be having more symptoms,” said Dr. Wayne E. Imber, an Encino allergist.

He and other allergy experts say the best thing a sufferer can do is identify the source of the problem and try to avoid it.

Other survival tips: Stay indoors if possible during the early morning and afternoon hours, when pollen levels are highest. If you have to go outside at those times, change clothes when you get home and wash your hair to get rid of pollen. Use an air conditioner indoors with a good filter. Imber said many hay fever sufferers can get through the season with non-prescription remedies, such as eyedrops, antihistamines and nasal sprays.

If those don’t work, other allergists recommend several relatively new prescription antihistamines that are non-sedating, including Seldane, Hismanal and Claritin.

There also are new prescription steroid nasal sprays that work well without the serious side effects of other medicines containing steroids.

If all else fails, allergy shots are probably the answer. The shots, initially once a week then with decreasing frequency for at least six months, almost always work.

“According to the literature, they’re 90% effective,” Imber said.

Springtime Allergy Sufferers’ Worst Enemies

TREES

Pollinating season Peak Arizona cypress January through June April Coast live oak March through June April Olive March through July May California black walnut March through June April Fruitless mulberry February through May April Arizona ash December through March February Alder November through March December Cottonwood February through April March Sycamore January through May February Box elder March through April April

GRASSES

Pollinating season Peak All (Bermuda, fescue, bluegrass, April through June May Johnson, June, Timothy) April through June May

Source: Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic