Sept. 22--Temperatures drop, gold- and red-colored leaves appear and, for those with fall allergies, noses run.
If you're one of the sniffling, you might want to stock up on antihistamines. With the rainy and cool mornings, allergens are in full swing in Northwest Missouri, and there are lot of allergy-prone people out there.
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) estimates 40 million to 50 million Americans have allergy diseases, and more than half of the American population has at least one allergen that affects them.
Autumn allergy season starts in September because falling leaves release more pollen into the air, said L.D. Dungan, a pharmacist at Medicine Center in St. Joseph. The pharmacist has noticed antihistamine prescriptions trending up recently, which is pretty typical for this time of year. Ragweed, one of the most common pollen-based allergies, blooms at the end of the summer and can aggravate allergies for up to eight weeks after that.
Changes in weather also seem to trigger allergies, said Dr. Aref Zaman, a family practice doctor at Northwest Health Services' North End Health Center. Dr. Zaman said he sees the most patients with allergy symptoms in October and in March and April.
Recent rainfall hasn't helped allergies either. Although the cool and damp help limit the spread of ragweed pollen, they also bring out mold spores, another common allergen.
St. Joseph area allergy sufferers might especially be feeling the autumn allergy season this year. According to an AAAAI testing center in Kansas City, Northwest Missouri has high concentrations of mold and weed allergens in the air and has had these high allergen levels all month.
Dr. Helen Nguyen, a pediatrics, allergy and immunology doctor in St. Joseph, has noticed more allergy complaints this fall. "I have seen more people coming in," said Dr. Nguyen. "I cannot tell you if it's a bad season or not, but it's more than usual this year."
Getting away from triggers helps allergy symptoms, but that's easier said than done, said Dr. Nguyen. For outdoor allergy sufferers, this means keeping windows closed at all times. Indoor allergies can be relieved with dehumidifiers, or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and purifiers, available at commercial home improvement stores.
In most cases, allergy medication is the best route because it relieves minor symptoms for the gamut of airborne allergies. If the allergies settle into your chest and you develop shortness of breath, you need to see a doctor, Dr. Nguyen said.
Jennifer Gordon can be reached at jennifer.gordon@newspressnow.com.
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