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Allergy Relief / Pollen Allergy / Pollen count in sneezy Southeast Texas expected to be worse than national levels
Pollen count in sneezy Southeast Texas expected to be worse than national levels
ROSE YBARRA
Trees are budding, flowers are blooming and birds are singing - and the sights and sounds of spring can be a welcome change after months of chilly, dark and gray days.
But for those with seasonal allergies, like Beatrice Lopez, 74, of Beaumont, springtime can be less than idyllic.
"I get terrible headaches," Lopez said. "I also get a powdery feeling in my throat because of the pollen."
Pollen counts in Southeast Texas are expected to be higher this year than they were in 2007 and higher than national levels, said Scott Hanslip, a vice president at Surveillance Data, Inc., the company that oversees pollen.com. The Web site provides allergy forecasts by ZIP code.
"The area is flagged as being much higher than the rest of the country," Hanslip said.
Southeast Texas had a mild winter, which causes pollen counts to increase.
Trees pollinate earlier, triggering an early start to the allergy season, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
In Southeast Texas, mold is a trigger for allergies year-round because of the area's humidity.
In the spring, pollen, flowering plants and trees, especially oak, are the main culprits, said Beaumont's Dr. Jeremy Roebuck, who practices otolaryngology, the medical specialty for ear, nose and throat maladies.
Roebuck said seasonal allergies usually present themselves like a cold that just won't go away.
The symptoms - headache, stuffy nose, sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes - can make life downright miserable for allergy suffers.
Chris Ayala, 17, a Lumberton High School senior, said he's missed several days of school because of his allergy symptoms.
"I was getting sick every couple of weeks," he said.
Ayala wasn't sleeping well because he had trouble breathing and then he'd wake up groggy and with a pounding headache.
About 26 million Americans have chronic seasonal allergies and the number of people with milder symptoms might be as high as 40 million, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Americans spend about $2.4 billion on over-the-counter medications and another $1.1 billion on doctor bills yearly, the FDA said.
Mild cases of seasonal allergies can be treated with over-the-counter allergy medications such as Claritin and Zyrtec, both of which previously were prescription drugs, Roebuck said.
He said antihistamines are known to cause drowsiness and should be used with caution.
People suffering chronic symptoms and symptoms affecting overall quality of life should see a doctor for further evaluation, Roebuck said.
Signs that it's time to see a doctor include sinus pain or other symptoms of sinus infection such as fever or yellow or green discharge from the nose.
Other warnings are a cough or cold that lasts more than a week and ear pain.
Patients with severe allergy symptoms can be given a blood or skin test to identify specific allergies.
Treatment for allergies includes medication and/or allergy shots.
Health-care providers also can recommend environmental changes, such as the use of air purifiers or special vacuums with filters.
Ayala, who recently was checked for allergies using a skin test, said the minor discomfort was worth it.
"I just want to find out what I'm allergic to and get it under control," he said.
From http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?ne
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
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