Sacramento faces ‘tough allergy season.’ Here’s how to avoid the worst, local allergist says
It finally looks like spring in Sacramento, and being the city of trees — you can see the pollen in the air.
After this winter’s pouring rain, this allergy season isn’t looking too good.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, rain can increase problems for people who have allergies to grass, weeds, dust and mold.
During wet weather, the rain can break up pollen into smaller particles, resulting in quick dispersion, the foundation stated on its website. There’s not much respite on drier days either. Since there’s less moisture in the air to weigh down pollen, it travels easier when the wind blows.
The Sacramento Bee talked to Dr. NaYoung Kim, the chief of allergy and immunology for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville, and she broke down what we can expect this season, answers a reader question and gives tips on avoiding the worst:
Can allergies worsen with age?
Reader Conor McGowan asked The Bee: “Is it true that seasonal allergies only get worse as we age?”
They can get worse or they can get better over a person’s lifetime, said Kim, who’s been an allergist since 2008.
“There’s no way to predict necessarily who’s definitely going to get worse or who definitely is going to get better,” she said.
But if you move to a new area, you may have a “honeymoon period” where you get exposed to new allergens.
What does this allergy season look like?
Get your allergy medicine ready.
“It’s going to be a really tough allergy season for allergy sufferers,” Kim said.
Tree and grass pollen coincide this time of year and late spring, she said, adding that the season for grass pollen is going to be really harsh.
Pollen forecasts for most of the Sacramento region are in the “medium-high” range, allergy forecasting website Pollen.com reports. Levels go from 0 to 12, with 12 being the highest count. The website estimates levels will range from 7.5 to 9 in Sacramento, from Tuesday to Saturday.
“You’re already probably seeing our most sensitive patients really struggling this year,” she said, “but it’s probably going to be a really, really tough one.”
Can I take allergy medicine daily? Will I become tolerant of it?
You can take allergy medicine daily.
These medications typically act differently and have different properties, Kim said.
Some patients may feel like they are building a tolerance for their allergy medication because they report their symptoms worsening or the regimen they’re using isn’t effective. But Kim said they should try switching to a different brand name, such as Claritin or Zyrtec, or category of medication. For example, you can try using an intranasal steroid instead of an intranasal antihistamine.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, these are both nasal sprays that help with allergy reactions, with the antihistamine better suited for non-daily symptoms while the steroid is most helpful for daily exposure.
Do quick temperature changes affect our immune system?
If you have the sniffles, don’t be too quick to blame Sacramento’s quick changing weather.
Kim said the weather doesn’t directly affect your immune system, so if you’re sick, it’s likely because the external factors changed. For instance, she said, warmer or windier days may cause more pollen. As a result, people with allergies or asthma may have a reaction to it.
Tips to prevent allergies
To prevent allergy symptoms, you should be prepared for changing outdoor environments and minimize exposure to things that you know you’re sensitive to, Kim said.
This means if you know you have allergies and the weather is warming up, stay inside and keep your doors closed. After being outside, you should wash your hair to get rid of allergens that may be on you. If you have pets, Kim advised that you wash them frequently.
You can also start your medications early.
“A lot of people wait until they’re absolutely miserable before they start medications,” Kim said. “Starting your allergy regime early can help prevent the effect called ‘priming.”
This is when symptoms start to snowball and you have to take more medication later to control symptoms when you could have started lesser medications earlier, she said.
Other tips, according to the Mayo Clinic include:
▪ Avoid activities that may cause your allergies, such as lawn mowing and gardening
▪ Remove your clothes and shower after being outside
▪ Don’t hang laundry outside to dry because pollen can stick to fabric
▪ Wear a face mask outdoors
▪ Stay updated with pollen forecasts
▪ Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning when pollen levels are the highest
And if you’re unable to control your allergies, Kim recommends you talk to your healthcare provider and see if you need to meet with an allergist.
Is it allergies, a cold or COVID?
Allergies, colds and COVID-19 share similar symptoms, but don’t sound the alarm at the first sneeze.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allergy symptoms include congestion, sneezing and red, watery or itchy eyes. Common COVID signs, on the other hand, include fever, chills, body aches and loss of smell or taste.
If you’re sick, health officials advise you to take early action and test before being in public, stay home and cover your coughs and sneezes.
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