According to an article on usatoday.com, allergies also cause another realm of symptoms, besides the primary ones like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose, including fatigue, irritability, mood changes, and depression. Maybe it’s the allergy blues, but it seems that it can be much more severe and needs to be looked at closely.

A few reasons are noteworthy of why these other symptoms are possible when suffering from allergies, and these can be linked to poor sleep or even certain chemicals in the body. We know that when allergies are bothering people, sleep becomes an issue, whether from the discomfort of the allergy itself of a side effect from the allergy medication. When people don’t get the right kind or amount of sleep or suffer from insomnia, health and well being are affected, often with the above listed symptoms.

As for the chemicals, researchers have found that proinflammatory cytokines are released in the body during an allergic reaction. These are a kind of protein that can cause the release of another chemical, IL-1 beta, into the brain which can cause certain behaviors like weakness, lethargy and low moods. In a recent study, Paul Marshall, a clinical neuropsychologist in the department of psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, says that research “strongly indicates that having allergies increases the likelihood of having depression twofold.”

Marshall’s concern here is how many allergists are aware of these related symptoms. It may be something important to look for and for allergists to inquire about when seeing a patient. If a person is already experiencing depression or other mood disorders, they can worsen in allergy season. The depressive symptoms shown in allergy sufferers may also be more of the physiological type symptoms, like fatigue or lethargy, than the emotional ones.

But this doesn’t mean that allergies and depression should not be taken seriously. Dr. Teodor Postolache at the University of Maryland led a review published in 2008 of the association between suicidal indicators and allergies. He noticed a peak in suicide rates during allergy season – April to June. There was a correlation between depression measurements and allergy symptoms in relation to the severity of tree pollen. The association also showed stronger in women.

There is a third theory on allergies and depression. It could be from the situation itself. Nobody likes to sneeze his day away, and nobody feels his best when constantly taking medication. Even with the newer allergy medications, it still alters something in the body. Recently, in an article in Beyondallergy.com, the correlation between school performance and allergies was discussed. When someone is not performing to their best abilities, moods can be lowered; depression can also be noticed. If an adult is not performing as well at work, or has to miss work, a slew of other factors can be affected, and depressive symptoms can manifest.

As we’ve often stated, allergies are so much more than what they appear to be. Whereas those that don’t suffer from them think of them as an annoyance, they don’t get the whole picture. Allergies can affect all facets of life, from school to work to family, and if one of those major things is being affected negatively, it can translate to a sense of well being and negatively impact that as well. With people paying more attention to the related allergy symptoms, maybe we can keep a better eye on any worrisome ones.

Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/04/20/allergies.depression.moods/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-03-16-allergies-depression_N.htm

What are eye allergies?
Eye allergies are also referred to as allergic conjunctivitis and can occur alone or with other allergy symptoms. When your eyes are itching, tearing, burning or are red, you are probably experiencing eye allergies. The lids can also swell, but not everyone considers this part of the actual eye allergy. The most common triggers are pet hair and dander, dust mites, mold and pollen, just like any other environmental allergy. They are only different than other allergy responses because they manifest in the eyes; it is the same response and reaction that the rest of the body exhibits when encountering an allergen – histamine is released and the body overreacts to fight the allergen.

Is treatment the same?
This is where it can get a little different from other allergies. Because most allergy medication does it’s job by drying up the overreacting mucous production, sometimes allergy medication can actually make eye allergies worse by drying them out; it makes them more painful. The tearing is the body’s way to try and flush the allergen out. If possible, try a cold, wet washcloth over the eyes as this can help calm the irritation. Eye drops are one of the best measures and good to use in combination if you are taking antihistamines for other allergy symptoms. Some people like plain lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) while others prefer eye drops specific to allergies that have antihistamine properties in them and combat the swelling and itching as well as lubricate the eye.

Can you wear contacts?
Because allergy season can make it very uncomfortable to wear contact lenses if you suffer from allergies, it’s a good idea to put those glasses on instead of contacts. The allergens can get in the eye and under the contacts and make things even more uncomfortable and add to the irritation. Also, allergens or eye secretions can build up on contacts and make things worse, even to the point of eye infections.

Some people do have luck with disposable contact lenses which are only worn once a day. Because they are tossed every night, they don’t get the build up that long term lenses do. So again, just like with other allergy “rules,” they aren’t set in stone. Maybe a soft lens will work when hard contacts don’t. The bottom line is that if your contacts are bothering you during allergy season and making things worse, put vanity aside and put on your glasses. You may save yourself some bigger problems.

Can red, itchy eyes mean something besides allergies?
Yes! Pink eye or other eye infections may have the same symptoms. Usually other allergy symptoms are present or you know your trigger with eye allergies. If something seems out of place or no other symptoms are present, visit your eye doctor. It could be something else and will need to be treated as such.

Sources

http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/Types/eye-allergies/Pages/default.aspx

Allergies take a toll on learning. In an article on Webmd, it is reported that “on any given day, about 10,000 of those children miss school because of their allergies. That’s a total of more than 2 million lost school days every year.” That’s a lot of lost time! Remember, too, this is actual time reported, not to mention when a kid feels just too lousy to concentrate. Often schools administer standardized testing in the spring, right in the height of allergy season. These tests may contribute to school ratings and ranks and student placement. What happens to the kid who bombs the test because he can’t stop sneezing or he’s too foggy to really concentrate because of his allergy med and the test is not a true reflection of his abilities?

If you’re finding that your child’s allergies are affecting school performance, you could be on the right track. Often allergy symptoms are hidden and those that affect aren’t the obvious ones. Because allergies can affect sleep patterns, kids with allergies may be more tired during allergy season. Allergies can also bring on behavior problems, especially in younger kids who don’t know how to really express their allergic symptoms. Allergy symptoms can manifest in more ways than sneezing and lead to bigger ailments like ear and sinus infections. Sometimes if the symptoms are severe, it’s better to keep your child home from school even though he’s not officially “sick.”

With good treatment, not only can your child learn better and focus more on school assignments, but his overall well being can improve. Doctors can recommend appropriate treatment for the specific symptoms, maybe some type of allergy medication or nasal spray to take while allergies are being in effect. Make sure you follow the doctor’s directions on administering the medicine for best results. Depending on the severity of the allergy, the doctor may also recommend allergy shots until the child shows improvement of symptoms. You can do some other things to help your child out at school like the following:

• Make sure your child’s teacher is aware of the allergy and the symptoms (she’ll be relieved all that sneezing and sniffling is not a contagious cold!).
• Talk to the teacher about possible triggers and how to avoid them. For instance, maybe on high pollen count days your child could stay inside with another class instead of going out to recess.
• If medication (eye drops, nasal spray, any medication) needs to be taken at school, make sure you follow all proper procedure and that your child is actually taking the medicine.
• Let the teacher know about any side effects that may occur from the medicine. It will make things easier for everyone.
• Have your child keep a box of tissues at his desk so he doesn’t need to keep getting up.

Nobody wants to suffer from hay fever. It’s annoying, uncomfortable, irritating, plus hard to avoid so many people just have to live with it. However, by treating allergies proactively and letting teachers know of your child’s situation, you and your child may be able to get through allergy season a little better and a little more focused.

Sources:

http://www.drdonaldlevy.com/articles_about-allergies/Children-Allergies.html

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/19/how-can-students-manage-allergies-at-school/

Pollen counts are indexes of how much pollen is in the air and are expressed in grains of pollen per cubic meter over a certain time period, like 24 hours. The higher the count is, the more pollen is in the air and the more allergies will be effected. Many websites have pollen counts that people can check on a daily basis, from national ones to local weather sites. Knowing pollen counts can help people decide on daily activities or when to take medicine or not.

At the recent AAAAI conference, however, researchers reported that there are often discrepancies between the pollen counts of websites and what the AAAAI is finding. After studying a number of websites compared to the findings of 13 of the AAAAI’s NAB Stations (National Allergy Bureau), they saw that the numbers did usually not correspond. Because these researchers know the inner workings of the NAB stations and the credibility of it, they saw that the other sites may not have verified or current information. For instance, one of the researchers reported that the predicted counts may be based on data from other years and more general forecasts. A lot needs to go in a pollen count to make it reputable.

Pollen has a number of factors regarding how it hits us, including the previous winter weather patterns, climate changes and current weather which all differ year to year. It also seems that the pollen seasons are lasting longer each year. In fact, according to an article in Medical News Today, the 2011 allergy season may be up to 27 days longer than the typical spring allergy season in North America. That is almost a month longer of suffering from pollen allergy symptoms.

Rain is a big factor regarding pollen, and though a wet season brings forth beautiful plants, flowers and trees, and can actually hold off the pollen, when the pollen does strike, it’s usually worse due to more flowers. Though the rain can delay it, the heavy amounts this year have made the pollen counts climb high in many areas of the country.

Rain can also wash the pollen away and the wet, heavy pollen doesn’t assault people like the light, dry pollen can. However, once again, it’s a double edged sword because once the rains stops, the pollen can still be around. The rain only provides short reprieves and can even wash pollen from other areas to sufferers, giving them something new to sneeze about.

Though the most common allergy symptoms are sneezing, itchy eyes and throats, and runny noses, people need to focus on what their personal symptoms are and treat those accordingly. For instance, if your eyes are hit hardest, treat with eye drops and not a general allergy medication as those can actually dry the eyes which makes symptoms worse. It is important to treat symptoms as all of the extra mucous in the body can cause secondary problems, like ear and sinus infections.

Pollen seems to be nobody’s friend and it is a tricky enemy. If you are someone who does look at pollen counts every day, make sure your information is coming from a reliable source, like the AAAAI or local weather stations. Treat accordingly and though we all like those rainy days that wash the pollen away, remember, at least for a few more weeks, it will be back.

Sources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/22/pollen-count-forecasts-reliable/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/09/MN8U1IT372.DTL

The most common forms of indoor allergens are those that are airborne, like cat and dog dander, dust mite and cockroach feces, mold and pollen. According to The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the best way to control indoor allergens is through reducing indoor air pollution, meaning get the allergens out of the air! By controlling the allergens and keeping the environment clean through some deep and daily cleaning, you’re on your way to a clean spring.

The number one way to do this is by eliminating the allergens if possible. Regardless of what the allergen may be, the best way to relieve symptoms is to get it out of the house. If you or someone is allergic to pet dander, and suffering from that allergen, unfortunately the most effective way to control the symptoms is to remove the pet hair from the home, in other words, get rid of the pets. If that isn’t an option, there are some less effective but more viable ways to reduce pet dander in the home.

Once the allergy sources are controlled, the air can be kept cleaner. That’s sometimes easier said than done as well, but with a bit of extra work and daily cleaning, it’s possible. One of the most effective things to do on a regular basis, meaning a couple of times a week, not a month, is to vacuum. Look for a good vacuum that won’t put allergens back into the air and change the bag or filter often. Many people prefer HEPA vacuums for allergy cleaning. If looking for a new vacuum, take some time to research and find one that will do the job you need.

Just as vacuuming is important to the fight against indoor allergens, so is dusting. Again, make sure you’re capturing and disposing of the dust, not just moving it around (which can be worse for you!). Use a wet dusting product, like Pledge, or one of the dusting rags that dust adheres to. I noticed one day in my daughter’s room that her bookshelf was covered in dust. Even though we do our best to keep her room picked up and vacuumed, she likes “things” and they are kept on top of her bookshelf which makes it hard to clean on a regular basis. I took everything off the shelf, dusted all of the “things” and the bookshelf, and replaced everything. I’m trying to get her to box up some of those knickknacks, but that hasn’t happened yet, though it would make it much easier to dust. The less clutter the easier it is to manage dust and other allergens. Try to reduce those stacks of magazines and bills, even if it just means keeping them in a large airtight box rather than out on a table or countertop.

Even though spring cleaning is important, so is the daily and weekly cleaning. Whether you’re battling dog hair from your beloved four legged friend or dust from everyday life, your household will feel better if the allergens are kept under control. Over 40 million people suffer from indoor allergies in the United States; it hits hard just like pollen and needs to be managed on a regular basis.

As they say, you can’t run from your allergies. And they are right. Even the spring we were in France he was plagued by the same allergy symptoms. There may have been different plants causing the symptoms, but they were the same symptoms nonetheless. He hadn’t thought to bring allergy medicine with him, so with very broken French bought some there. He was amazed how well it took his symptoms away and brought relief. He even bought extra to bring home, but of course, either used them or they expired.

Last year he took the old box with him to the pharmacy and finally he and the pharmacist deciphered the ingredients and found that the closest American allergy med to these was Claritin. So this year, my husband bought a batch of OTC Claritin and has been using it this spring. Yes, he sneezes a little and every so often his eyes itch, but by taking it when he’s supposed to, he’s had a great allergy season.

Claritin is a 24 hour med, one dose every 24 hours. However, he doesn’t do it that way, he waits until he feels allergy-ish and takes one. Sure he sneezes a little more this way, but he can go longer without taking medicine. And he loves how quickly it does kick in once he takes it. I know doctors recommend taking it every 24 hours, really with any medicine, it’s better to take it before symptoms kick in then once they have. It’s easier to combat that way. But that’s up to the patient, too. Which is a higher priority to them; it’s an individual choice and all goes to that personalized allergy plan.

The bottom line is you have to find what works best for you and then how it works best. I am sure Claritin is not everyone’s allergy drug of choice, but it works great for my husband. I’m sure not everyone prefers a mild allergy attack to less medication, but he does so that’s his MO. Sometimes it takes trial and error, but than you find your best plan. Whatever it is, I am glad he has control over his allergies this year and isn’t allergy miserable or medication foggy! Thank you Claritin!

And it has been raining here! That’s the kicker. Even after days of rain, when it dries, the pollen is back. The tennis courts are sprinkled with so much pollen there’s no question if the ball is out because you can see right where it landed. You can write on the cars like on a foggy window. My golden retriever has more of yellow tint and it is just everywhere!

This led me to look at the annual worst cities for pollen put out by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation to see where it is really bad this year. Here’s what I found…

The rankings are based on scientific analysis of 3 factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. The data measured and compared each year includes:
• Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)*
• Number of allergy medications used per patient
• Number of allergy specialists per patient

In a study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Knoxville, Tennessee was ranked the number one place for the worst spring allergies because of high pollen counts and high use of allergy medications (Knoxville was giving a whopping score of 100). Some runners ups are Lousiville, KY, Charlotte, NC, and Jackson MS. The only non Southern states were Michigan and Ohio. Guess what? My state wasn’t even in the top 10! I can’t imagine what it’s like in Knoxville right now!

Hopefully the season will be short lived and we can all manage our allergies through it. As the AAFA reminds us, you can’t run from your allergies, you never know what new allergen is lurking in the next city. You just have to manage it and get through it.

For more on the Allergy capitals:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/got-allergies-10-worst_n_842100.html?ir=Travel#s259217&title=Knoxville_Tennessee

When you or your child goes to someone’s house:

• Let the family know. You don’t have to be alarmist about it, but they would want to know so they can take some preventative measures (see below).
• Pack some Benadryl. If your child is old enough, let her handle it. If she is still young, give it to the parents and let them know any signs that she may need to take some. It’s more polite to send your own than to rely on them to provide it. Make sure you let them know the dosage, too.
• If it’s for a sleepover, send her own sleeping bag and pillow. You don’t know if the cat sleeps on the pillows or if the covers may have dog hair on them. This is good especially if they are sleeping on the floor. Then no one has to worry about washing sheets and pillow cases, too.
• Remind your child of basics : if she plays with the pet, wash hands afterwards. If she shouldn’t even go near the pet, remind her not to.
• If you need to ask the family to make sure the pet has distance from your child, do so. Most people don’t mind and are happy to make the visit a good one.

When someone comes to your house who may be allergic to your cat or dog:

• Keep your pet in a spot away from the visitor. Maybe keep the cat or dog in your bedroom, or don’t let it go wherever the visitors are (if they are sleeping in your kid’s room, keep the pet out).
• If they didn’t bring their own pillow/sleeping bag, give them a fresh one. Don’t take the pillows off the bed for your guests, even kids. It is more sanitary anyway, for everyone.
• Vacuum before they get there.
• Watch for allergic signs and take care of them.

Visiting with pets can be done, even for the allergic. Good communication is key, on both the guest’s and the host’s part. Remember, don’t be shy; everyone wants a healthy visit!

Why do people take bee pollen? According to the gentleman we spoke with, it’s not only to combat allergies, but it also makes you feel more energized. When I looked it up after we got home, so many other benefits were listed, it was hard to keep up. Some of them are: diaper rash, eczema, enhancing athletic performance, stomach problems, asthma, rheumatism, slowing aging and helping with menopause. However, none of these have substantial medical research to back them up.

It also contains high numbers of amino acids and vitamins, including vitamin C and B Complex, along with trace elements of a number of minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium, though ideas of how much bee pollen to take to get these benefits differs. Another benefit is strengthening the immune system, and a healthy immune system does a better job of fighting allergens.

It does appear to be safe all around, though it is recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding do not take bee pollen. Other than that, it seems safe. There are reports, however, of people like my husband taking it for allergies who have adverse reactions and it makes their allergies worse, even causing swelling and shortness of breath.

If you do decide to take it, the advice we got for taking it is to start with a tiny amount of granules, maybe two or three (my husband is taking 3 a day right now). Take them in the morning because of the energizing aspect as opposed to the evening or before bed. You can stir it into a smoothie or put the granules into oatmeal or something like that. Start with a few granules and every few days increase the intake but a few granules. In the matter of about a month, you’ll be taking about a spoonful.

Use this as an introduction to bee pollen and if you’re interested, look into it further. It is not the same as taking honey. Like other natural supplements, there are not FDA regulations, so do a bit of research before taking it. I look forward to seeing how it helps my husband; maybe I’ll start taking it, too!

1. Clean it – Dust and dust mites can aggravate allergies. Clean with a good vacuum cleaner on a regular basis, especially if there are pets in the home and/or carpet. Dust on a regular basis, too. The less chemicals used the better while cleaning. Look for “green” cleaners or use some of the newer dust cloths that don’t require spray. Steam cleaning is also a great way to clean allergy free.

2. Keep the windows and doors shut during high allergy/pollen season – Though it is tempting to enjoy the spring or fall days with open windows and doors, it just lets the pollen in. Keep them shut.

3. Watch the toys – Of course, kids do love stuffed animals, but remember they harbor dust. Try to find non allergenic stuffed toys that can be cleaned on a regular basis (hot water is best if possible).

4. Use hypoallergenic bed clothes – Try to avoid down and feather pillows and comforters. Many pillows, mattress covers and comforters are made from hypoallergenic materials. People are also turning to organic cotton or bamboo sheets that are free of chemicals and pesticides.

5. Use “clean” in the laundry – Many of us do it for our babies, and as they get older, we forget. But there is a reason we wash baby clothes in gentle, chemical free detergent – it is less irritating. Try to use free and clean laundry detergent, the same with fabric softeners if you use them. There are more and more products on the market to choose from as people want what is safe.

6. Limit mold growth – Mold isn’t just in the shower or bathtub edges. It can grow in moist basements, even around leaky faucets in the sinks or leaky pipes. Fix any leaks and make sure the humidity in the home does not get to high (under 50 % is good).

7. Limit allergen absorbing surfaces – Limit the use of things like drapes, tablecloths, even throw pillows and blankets.

8. Clean the pets – Even people with allergies can share their home with pets. Keep the pets clean with bathing and brushing them often. Don’t let them sleep in beds or get on upholstered furniture.

9. Use an air cleaner – These filter out dust, pollen and other allergens from the air. Whether you put one in every room or just the main rooms, it will help.

Any of these will help make the home more allergy free and be a better place for young children. The more that can be done, the better, but every little bit helps.