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Spring is in bloom- Can allergy season be far behind?Texas Spring has arrived. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, leaves are greening. And allergy sufferers are sneezing. Some allergies are worse in spring, said Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist. "Pollen is the most common allergen," she said. "Spring is a bad time for pollen allergies because the pollen particles are very small and easily carried by spring winds." The most common of these allergy-causing pollens are from trees, grasses and weeds such as ragweed, Rice said. "A single ragweed plant can generate a million grains of pollen a day." All that pollen might make an allergy sufferer wish for rain, since "pollen counts tend to be highest in the early morning on warm, dry, breezy days and lowest during chilly wet periods," Rice said. Common allergy symptoms are sneezes and coughs; runny or stuffy nose; eyes that itch, water or are red; dark circles under the eyes (sometimes caused 'allergic shiners'); and, in children, the 'allergic salute,' or wiping the nose upward, she said. But is it a pollen allergy or something else? "People with pollen allergies have seasonal symptoms," Rice said. "If you have year-round problems, then you might have indoor allergies to dust mites, cockroaches, mold or pet dander." For an accurate diagnosis, a visit to an allergist is in order, she said. This medical specialist "will do skin tests, injecting very small amounts of potential allergens through punctures in the skin. If someone is allergic, a raised area or 'wheal'--hive--will develop within 20 minutes or so." Rice said the most common ways of treating allergies are: --Avoiding pollen allergens by staying indoors, keeping windows closed and making sure the air conditioner is on during early mornings or windy days. Keep car windows closed during trips. Vacations on the beach or a cruise might relieve some of the worst symptoms during bad allergy seasons. However, Rice warned, "moving does not work. You just tend to exchange one allergy for a new one in a new environment." --Medications containing antihistamines--including some new over-the-counter medications that are less sedating--might help. Nasal sprays with steroids might also help reduce inflamation. Talk over choices in medicines with a doctor. --For about 85 percent of allergy sufferers, shots are a help. Improvement takes time, though, Rice said--sometimes as much as five years. And since this treatment requires one or two shots a week for several months, frequent visits to the doctor's office are required. "Before deciding on allergy shots, try the first two suggested treatments," Rice said. "If those don't work, then explore testing and shots. But realize you may have limited coverage with insurance--shots require a considerable time and financial commitment, but they can be very effective. And, according to some authorities, may help you avoid developing other allergies or even asthma." The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (www3.niaid.nih.gov/) and the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com/) are good sources for information, Rice said. For more information on this and other health issues, visit Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences website at http://fcs.tamu.edu/ and click on the link to Health. Date: 5/25/06
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