24 August 2015
GLOBAL WARMING EXTENDTUMBLEWEED, SAGEBRUSH, & RAGWEED ALLERGY SEASON
Six Tips to Combat Hay Fever Misery
There’s a new reason to be concerned about global warming – it’s making hay fever season a lot longer.
That means that millions of people with tumbleweed, sagebrush and ragweed allergies will need to take their medication for longer to stay misery-free. As an allergist, I treat people with allergies and asthma and would be happy to discuss this with you. I’ve also included some tips that you might want to share.
Feel like there’s no end in sight when it comes to fall allergy misery? Blame global warming. Research suggests that with global warming, nasal allergy during the tumbleweed, sagebrush and ragweed pollen season – also called hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis – lasts up to three weeks longer than it used to, and the further north you live, the longer you have to wait for relief.
Considered the most allergenic of all pollens, tumbleweed, sagebrush and ragweed starting in mid-August until the first freeze. One plant alone can produce up to one billion pollen grains, and each grain can travel more than 100 miles.
1 in 10 Americans is affected by the sniffling, sneezing and itching of tumbleweed, sagebrush, and ragweed allergies. Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Lokshin of Allergy and Asthma Associates are allergist, a doctor who specializes in treating people with hay fever, as well as asthma and other allergies. Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Lokshin and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) suggest those who suffer from hay fever follow these six steps for relief:
- Get a jump start – Mark your calendar to remind you to take medication before tumbleweed, sagebrush, and ragweed allergy symptoms start. August is when the plant blooms in most of the country, but it’s a little later in the South.
- Keep the pollen outside out – Ragweed travels with the wind, so close windows in your house and car.
- Come clean – After spending time outdoors, shower, change and wash your clothes. Clean your nasal passages, too, by using a salt water rinse.
- Mask your misery – Wear a face mask when you garden or mow the lawn. Better yet, assign those tasks to family members who don’t suffer from hay fever.
- Consider a cure – If non-prescription medication isn’t doing the trick, it may be time to see either Dr. Shapiro or Dr. Lokshin who can provide more effective treatment. One option is immunotherapy – allergy shots. The treatment involves regular injections with pollen allergens. Immunotherapy can significantly lessen or get rid of nasal and eye allergy symptoms altogether. “Allergy shots can not only reduce allergy symptoms and medication use, it can prevent the development of asthma and the development of other allergies,” said allergist Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Lokshin.
- Don’t let up too soon – Because the nasal and eye symptoms of associated with tumbleweed, sagebrush, & ragweed allergies can linger after the pollen can no longer be detected in the air, don’t stop your allergy medication immediately.
To learn more about asthma and allergies, including hay fever, visit www.AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org or www.allergyasthmareno.com
If you have questions or would like to talk, please make an appointment to discuss.
All the best to you,
Leonard Shaprio, MD
Boris Lokshin, MD
2135 Green Vista Dr. Suite 109
Sparks, NV 89431
Ph: 775-359-5010
Fax: 775-359-7656