Mar. 28--Bees love it, and so do the birds. But, springtime pollen is a bane for the sniffly and sneezy folks out there.
They're not the only one running out of tissue. Neighbors and co-workers have the runny, drippy, wheezy misery, too.
It's spring, but what's going on?
Something is in the air: more pollen than usual.
The National Allergy Bureau's latest pollen and mold counts show "very high concentration" of pollen, especially from trees. Pollen from weeds, grass and mold are at "low concentration."
The bureau report is a service of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a professional medical specialty organization of allergists and other health professionals.
Data from its pollen collection station in Roseville indicated tree allergen levels at 2,834 pollens per cubic meter, compared with fewer than 1,000 pollens per cubic meter last year.
Dr. Gordon Garcia, an allergist with Kaiser Permanente's South Sacramento Medical Center, said the pollen counts are higher than normal, but the numbers can vary greatly from week to week and fluctuate with the weather.
"If it rains, pollen counts will drop dramatically," he said. "If it starts to dry out again, they'll go right back up."
He said windy conditions can blow pollen all over the place.
An allergic reaction occurs when the body's immune system reacts to a foreign substance (allergen) such as pollen or dust. The immune system responds by producing a chemical called histamine, which causes symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing, according to information from Garcia's Web site.
Allergens vary from region to region.
In Sacramento, there are many mulberry trees, Garcia said. According to the National Allergy Bureau, the top four pollen emitters near the Roseville station are mulberry, oak, ash and pine.
"Grass is the No. 1 pollen allergen. It peaks in mid-May," said Garcia.
The allergist said he started to see a spike in patients with allergy symptoms this week.
"It's a big time right now. A lot of people are suffering," he said.
For those with severe asthma or severe allergies, more pollen in the air can trigger serious health problems. But, for most patients, allergies affect one's quality of life.
"In terms of the misery factor, the day-to-day impact on people's lives, it's significant," he said. "People miss work and school, and they don't sleep as well."
Garcia advises allergy sufferers to avoid allergens but admitted it's not always practical to stay indoors all the time.
Spring invites people outdoors and into gardens. People want to throw open the windows and let in the fresh air. Those sensitive to allergens can take some steps to prevent allergies, Garcia said.
He advised keeping windows closed, driving with the windows rolled up and wearing a mask and goggles while doing yard work. And be sure to wash off and put on fresh clothes after yard work, he said.
"If you've got pollen on your hair, you'll take it to bed with you," he said.
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