Pollen is in the air as allergy season gets under way in Quincy

QUINCY — Have your eyes or nose been runny lately? Have you started coughing and sneezing?

Pollen season has started, which means many people may be experiencing allergies. Dr. Ellen Pratt, who specializes in allergy and immunology with Quincy Medical Group, offered some of her thoughts and suggestions.

Why?

“We start with tree pollen,” Pratt said, “and then typically around this time of year, the grasses start pollinating as well.”

The pollen circulates more on windy days and when dirt is tilled or lawns are mowed. The season ends once a hard frost happens near October.

Pollens cause allergies because the body can see the particles as foreign and dangerous. When the particle level gets high, the extra matter in the air can irritate the sinuses.

It takes repeated seasons to develop an allergy, so kids won’t start to show symptoms until around ages 3 to 5. There is a strong genetic component, so if one parent has an allergy, there is a 50 percent chance that their child will be impacted as well. Having pets at home can decrease the risk of developing a sensitivity, as it exposes more microbes to the immune system.

Symptoms:

Symptoms include congestion, a runny or itchy nose and watery or itchy eyes.

Treatment:

“We typically treat by using avoidance measures and medications,” Pratt said. “But if those two don’t work well enough, then we talk about doing allergy shots.”

In terms of avoidance measures, Pratt recommends using pollen.com to see how the daily pollen levels are before planning outdoor activities. Rain, wind and heat can all impact the pollen count. When returning indoors, make sure to wash your hands and face, plus facial hair.

If you’re dealing with allergies indoors, it’s important to keep windows closed and to run air conditioning. Running an air purifier can decrease the exposure level.

For over-the-counter medication, Pratt recommends Benadryl for something shorter acting, although it can cause sedation. For something long-term, she suggests Zyrtec or Claritin. Nasal sprays or eye drops can be a great option.

“One of my favorites is nasal saline and sinus rinse,” Pratt said. “That’ll help wash all of that stuff out of your nose, in addition to washing your hands and face or taking a shower.”

If patients are still struggling with allergies beyond these treatments, they can participate in allergy testing to help guide avoidance measures or receive allergy shots to reduce symptoms.

Annie C. Reller is a Seattle native and a recent Stanford graduate serving as an intern for Muddy River News this spring.