Allergy Season Comes At-Choo

The answer is blowing in the wind.

If you’re feeling congested, wheezy or short of breath, blame the same Santa Ana winds that are causing hellish scenes throughout Southern California.

“In the last 48 hours, I have seen more patients than I’ve seen in the whole previous month,” said Dr. William E. Berger of Mission Viejo, president of the California Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “I’ve seen patients in the last two days who I haven’t seen in a year.”

It’s only natural for high-speed winds to bear down from the Great Basin, stirring allergens and irritants like mold spores and pollen, causing breathing problems for people with asthma and those who suffer allergies. It happens at least several times each autumn.

But because of wildfires raging throughout the region, smoke and other particles have been added to the airborne mix, making a bad situation worse.

“It’s picked up in my office,” said Dr. Stanley P. Galant, director of the pediatric allergy clinic at UCI Medical Center and a private practitioner in Orange. “In addition to the winds, there’s a lot of particulate matter. Besides pollen and molds, there’s also changes in humidity and pressure.”

Asthma patients in particular seem to be feeling the wrath of this season’s roaring winds, with many arriving in hospital emergency rooms. “I’ve seen a number of patients affected by the winds,” said Dr. William Cloud, an emergency room doctor at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. “They’ve had relatively minor nasal congestion, to shortness of breath.”

Even those with no history of respiratory illness have been clearing their throats, rubbing their eyes and wondering what’s up.

“Every time the Santa Anas kick up, people want to know what the heck’s going on,” said Dr. Richard Ross, an allergist at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Anaheim, who sees patients in Garden Grove, Irvine and Huntington Beach. “The devil winds. That’s what they call them, and sure enough. . . . “

Roughly 20% of the general population suffers from some form of allergy. From 5% to 10% suffer from asthma. For the latter group, Santa Anas represent a potentially life-threatening challenge, so doctors urge patients to be diligent about their medication.

“The Santa Anas are the worst triggers asthmatics have to deal with,” Ross said. “We can count on phone calls increasing substantially, if not the day of a Santa Ana, then two or three days after.”

For asthma sufferers, bronchial inhalers are the first line of defense, followed perhaps by long-term therapy with anti-inflammatory medication.

For those with minor nasal congestion, doctors prescribe extra fluids, antihistamines and saline nasal spray.

And for anyone suffering from wind-related symptoms, chronic or otherwise, doctors recommend a few days indoors, if possible, preferably near a filtered air conditioner.

“The key thing is not to spend a whole lot of time outside,” Ross said. “I wish there would be some kind of edict at schools, where asthmatic kids would not be allowed outside during Santa Ana conditions.”

Besides respiratory patients and people with eye troubles have also been rushing to doctors’ offices. For the red-eyed legions, doctors often recommend sunglasses and artificial tear drops.

“People coming in all have kind of a glassy look to their eyes,” said Dr. Richard Hill, an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist on the faculty at UC Irvine. “And in some cases, people with dry eyes . . . actually [experience] a decrease in vision.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Attack of the Pollen

The same Santa Ana winds that fanned wildfire are transporting pollen. This means sneezing, teary eyes and stuffy noses for the 10% to 20% of people with hay fever, an allergy to plant pollens.

*

Morning

1. Pollen Released: Most plants release pollen in the morning, and it floats up as the ground warms.

Afternoon

2. Carried Away: It flies farther on dry, windy days. On humid days, moisture weighs it down.

Evening

3. Settles to the Ground: When the ground cools, pollen falls back to earth.

*

Weeds

* Pollinate April to November.

* Local sagebrush and ragweed aren’t a big problem, but winds can blow weed pollen in from the desert.

Trees

* February pollen is worst and continues through April.

* Local offenders: ash, alder, olive, oak and sycamore.

Grasses

* Most pollinate March to October.

* Grass pollen affects more people in Orange County than other types. Bermuda grass is a big troublemaker.

*

Tips for Sufferers

* Close windows

* Use air conditioner

* Stay indoors in morning and late afternoon.

* Avoid yard work or wear face mask.

* Antihistamines relieve some symptons.

Sources: Dr. David Walkington, director of Cal State Fullerton Arboretum; Allergy Medical Clinic; allergist Dr. Mark Ellis