Allergy season is something to sneeze about

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Allergy season is something to sneeze about
Reprinted From The Appeal-Democrat - A Freedom Communications, Inc. Newspaper, March 7, 1998.

While the recent break in the bad weather was a welcomed relief for most, for allergy sufferers the clear skies and warm temperatures mean agony.

Almond trees are in blossom and while the pink flowers are pretty to look at, the pollen wreaks havoc on spring allergy sufferers, said Dr. Robert Peppercorn.

"At the end of February ... people go crazy, suffering from tremendous eye irritation and sneezing," Peppercorn said.

Allergies to pollen linger through the end of April and then the grass allergies kick in.

"The only fortunate thing is most people are not allergic to everything," said Peppercorn, an allergy sufferer himself.

This year's heavy rains have also caused problems for those allergic to molds that grow on the wet agricultural lands.

With the heavy rains, molds grow on the agricultural fields and the spores get in the air, Peppercorn said.

Southern California clinics have been inundated with people suffering from the molds, even those not normally affected by allergies, but patient load hasn't reached epidemic proportions locally.

"There is a potential for it, and health officials are aware, but so far we haven't been hit with it," said Sutter County public health nurse Judy Mikesell.

There has been an increase in allergy sufferers coming into the clinic for treatment, but the numbers are typical for this time of year, she said.

The cold, wet weather also forces everyone indoors where dust particles aggravate allergies, Peppercorn said.

The dust isn't from poor housekeeping, but human flakes of skin eaten by dust mites creating microscopic particles that get in the air, he said.

Though they can appear in childhood, allergies generally first develop between the ages of 25 and 35, Peppercorn said. It also takes several years of exposure to develop an allergy. So people new to the Yuba-Sutter area won't suffer allergies common to the area until three or four years after living here, he said.

There are various ways to prevent or reduce allergy attacks, he said.

"If you're allergic to things in the home," he said, "try taking away the things that accrue dust particles."

Tile or linoleum should replace carpet, use mini blinds instead of drapes "and vacuum more frequently," Peppercorn said.

Those allergic to cats will want to keep the felines off of the bed.

"So when you sleep at night you won't have the exposure," Peppercorn said. That gives the person relief from exposure to the allergy for one-third to a fourth of the day "and that can help."

Those who find a breath of fresh air agonizing should stay indoors when the wind blows and turn the air conditioning on so the windows can remain closed, he said.

Numerous over-the-counter medications can offer relief to allergies. Peppercorn recommends those containing chlorpheniramine.

"It's similar to Benadryl, which is the most commonly used over-the-counter (drug), but makes you sleepy. Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that won't cause drowsiness," Peppercorn said.

He also suggested using Nasal Crom before symptoms appear. Nasal Crom is a nose spray that prevents symptoms by stabilizing the blood cells prone to allergies, he said.

There are also numerous prescription drugs available through a physician.