News
ENLARGE
Oregon is a beautiful place to live year around. You can ski in the mountains in the winter, fly a kite at the beach in the summer, and hike or ride a bike around the beautiful farmland that surrounds us throughout the spring and fall.
The downside for many Oregonians and nearly 36 million Americans nationally, is that our beautiful surroundings are also the leading causes of seasonal allergies. Pollen from trees, grasses, flowers and weeds are at the root of seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever.
For allergy sufferers, spring can be a double-edged sword of beautiful weather and horrible congestion. Having itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, sinus headaches and sneezing often can make anyone miserable.
The challenge that lies ahead for allergy sufferers is deciding how to treat their symptoms so they don't miss out on all Oregon has to offer in the spring and summer.
There are many remedies to consider. The least appealing option is to avoid the fresh spring air entirely. But while this may be efficient, it is not very practical.
There are some non-medicinal suggestions that may ease your hay fever misery. First, if you have air conditioning, use it with a clean filter. This will save you from excess exposure to pollens in the air. Also, along the same lines, try to stay inside when the pollen count is at its peak, which is typically between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Another option to help keep your allergies at bay is to keep your home as dust-free and clean as possible. Using an over-the-counter nasal saline irrigation system to flush out the nasal cavity can also help. If you have tried these suggestions to no avail or need more information, it may be time to see your local ear, nose and throat specialist.
An ear, nose and throat physician who also specializes in allergies can help determine the trigger for your allergies. In many cases, an intradermal skin test will be conducted. The intradermal skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of allergen solution into the skin. If there is a reaction, it is a sign that you are allergic to the allergen that was tested.
Once you determine what is causing your allergies, your allergist can help develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. Treatment can be as simple as over-the-counter antihistamines or as complex as receiving immunotherapy (allergy shots) for several years.
Immunotherapy is a common form of allergy control for people who suffer from allergies for more than three months in a row. By receiving a shot every week during the “build-up” phase, your body begins to build immunities to the allergen.
This phase usually lasts about a year and then shots can often be decreased to once every two or three weeks. Once treatment is completed after three to five years, your allergic reactions can often be controlled for a lifetime.
No matter what treatment your doctor prescribes, getting tested to know what you are allergic to will help you along the path to enjoying the beautiful spring weather and activities, rather than having your nose stuck in a tissue wishing the cold would return.
Dr. Carl Schreiner is a board certified Roseburg otolaryngologist who specializes in allergies. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, as well as a member of DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County. If there's a health care topic you would like to see covered, please contact Dan Hern at dhern@dcipa.com.
The downside for many Oregonians and nearly 36 million Americans nationally, is that our beautiful surroundings are also the leading causes of seasonal allergies. Pollen from trees, grasses, flowers and weeds are at the root of seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever.
For allergy sufferers, spring can be a double-edged sword of beautiful weather and horrible congestion. Having itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, sinus headaches and sneezing often can make anyone miserable.
The challenge that lies ahead for allergy sufferers is deciding how to treat their symptoms so they don't miss out on all Oregon has to offer in the spring and summer.
There are many remedies to consider. The least appealing option is to avoid the fresh spring air entirely. But while this may be efficient, it is not very practical.
There are some non-medicinal suggestions that may ease your hay fever misery. First, if you have air conditioning, use it with a clean filter. This will save you from excess exposure to pollens in the air. Also, along the same lines, try to stay inside when the pollen count is at its peak, which is typically between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Another option to help keep your allergies at bay is to keep your home as dust-free and clean as possible. Using an over-the-counter nasal saline irrigation system to flush out the nasal cavity can also help. If you have tried these suggestions to no avail or need more information, it may be time to see your local ear, nose and throat specialist.
An ear, nose and throat physician who also specializes in allergies can help determine the trigger for your allergies. In many cases, an intradermal skin test will be conducted. The intradermal skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of allergen solution into the skin. If there is a reaction, it is a sign that you are allergic to the allergen that was tested.
Once you determine what is causing your allergies, your allergist can help develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. Treatment can be as simple as over-the-counter antihistamines or as complex as receiving immunotherapy (allergy shots) for several years.
Immunotherapy is a common form of allergy control for people who suffer from allergies for more than three months in a row. By receiving a shot every week during the “build-up” phase, your body begins to build immunities to the allergen.
This phase usually lasts about a year and then shots can often be decreased to once every two or three weeks. Once treatment is completed after three to five years, your allergic reactions can often be controlled for a lifetime.
No matter what treatment your doctor prescribes, getting tested to know what you are allergic to will help you along the path to enjoying the beautiful spring weather and activities, rather than having your nose stuck in a tissue wishing the cold would return.
Dr. Carl Schreiner is a board certified Roseburg otolaryngologist who specializes in allergies. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, as well as a member of DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County. If there's a health care topic you would like to see covered, please contact Dan Hern at dhern@dcipa.com.
