Here’s why your allergies are already kicking in Tips For Your Family's Health

Here’s why your allergies are already kicking in

April 13th, 2011 Leo Dicks Leave a comment Go to comments

PORTLAND, Ore. — The wet, cold spring here in the Northwest, delayed the beginning of spring allergy season — but the trees tell us it’s just a few warm days away now.

On the 13th floor of a downtown medical building Fely Abaria counts the number of tree pollen spores caught on a rooftop sampling machine.

“See what I do is put this on the roof and it spins around for 48 hours then I see what kind of pollen is in the air,” she said.

So far the counts are unseasonably low. But it’s just a matter of time.

Soon, trees all over the Northwest will bloom and the wind will carry their pollen far and wide and onto many of us. In a quarter of the population, our bodies will respond with a rush of histamine to fight the pollen invasion.

Link: Allergy info

“An allergic reaction is basically just this explosion of histamine,either on the eye, causing eye symptoms or in the nose causing nose symptoms. The histamine then goes on to cause things like congestion, runny, itchy, watery,” said allergy doctor Barzin Khalili.

One of his patients, Janice Belknap, dreaded this time of year so much she started getting allergy shots to reduce her body’s reaction. She easily remembers the feeling. “Lots of runny nose, lots of itchy eyes, just sneezing a lot and feeling really tired all the time. Just never able to get enough rest,” she said.

Even with the limited tree pollen in the air right now, many, like Ellen Vanrossum and Fanny Ng are feeling the effects as they stroll along Portland’s water front.

“Congestion,” said Vanrossum when asked to name her biggest symptom. “Not sleeping well at night,” she said.

But many, including Erik Merrill, are not feeling the effects yet.

“Think I got lucky because it’s been so cold this year and the trees are blooming at a more staggered rate,” said Merrill.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America rated Knoxville, Tennessee as the worst city in the U.S. for allergy problems. Portland, Oregon ranks way down at 89 out of 100.

Still, if you wonder whether you have allergies or a cold think about the following advice from our allergy doctor.

“If there is a seasonal component, so if you say to yourself ‘oh my gosh, here comes March or April I know I’m gonna catch a cold,’ you should already start thinking that it might be allergic,” said Dr. Khalili.

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