Pin Your Allergy Blame on a Long List of Culprits
By Dan Sorenson, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
May 8–The blame for allergy pain falls mainly on the winter rain.
Mesquite and palo verde are probably the leading sources of torment for allergy sufferers right now. But there are about “15 types of pollen still out there,” says longtime Tucson pollen expert Mark Sneller.
Olive is also a major factor, as are rye and Bermuda grasses, and ragweed and tumbleweed, says Dr. Nabeeh LaHood, a Tucson allergist.
A relatively wet winter, at least compared with the long-term drought’s winters, encouraged the growth of pollen- producing weeds, trees and other plants, says Sneller.
Things are looking up for allergy sufferers. It’s nearing the end of pollen peak season, although falling pollen counts got a boost by recent winds.
Wednesday’s total pollen count was 304, an improvement over Friday’s 422, says Sneller. Palo verde was 90; mesquite, 131; ragweed, 23, Sneller said he also measured pollen from walnut and olive trees. (The counts refer to the number of pollen particles per cubic meter of air.)
How it’s measured: Pima County no longer tracks pollen counts. Sneller, a microbiologist who owns Aero-Allergen Research of Tucson, uses sticky rotating discs in air samplers to collect outdoor airborne particles. He identifies and counts them under a microscope.
Sneller’s allergy-avoidance tips:
–Leave your shoes at the door. Most pollen comes into your house not through windows and open doors, but on your shoes.
–Evaporative “swamp” coolers aren’t necessarily bad for allergies. But you should change cooler pads two or three times a season and drain and clean out the water reservoir.
–Don’t assume all of your allergy problems are due to one tree, grass or weed. Some outdoor-plant pollens are similar to those of fruits and vegetables we eat and worsen allergic reactions.
LaHood’s allergy-avoidance tips:
–Pet owners don’t want to hear it, but Fido and Fluffy could be an allergy problem. Keep pets outside the bedroom — and, if conditions warrant, preferably outdoors.
–Wash your pets every 10 days to two weeks.
–Wash your hair before going to bed: Hair collects and holds pollen from when you were outside.
–If over-the-counter medications don’t tame a child’s allergies, consult an allergist. Mouth-breathing caused by allergies can cause jaw malformation requiring braces.
Allergies can affect school performance because they can cause fatigue and trigger ear infections.
Also, antihistamines may cause sleepiness. Children with allergies are sometimes falsely labeled as hyperactive because they cannot concentrate.
On StarNet: For the latest on health updates, along with a database of common ailments, visit azstarnet.com/health.
–Contact reporter Dan Sorenson at 573-4185 or dsorenson@azstarnet.com.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
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