Fall Allergy Season: Like Spring—Only Different

I love the idea of spring: the days gradually grow longer and warmer, the countdown begins for the annual opening of swimming pools, and we stash our winter coats and snow boots, filling our closets with shorts, bathing suits, and flip-flops. Spring conjures up all things green and good: warmth, flowers, and joy.

Before I wax too poetic about the virtues of this verdant season, I would like to point out that for those of us with allergies, this past spring was hellish. I ran into allergy sufferers everywhere I went: fellow customers at coffee shops incessantly blew their noses into napkins; small talk with my friends consistently included groans and complaints about sleepless nights and clogged sinuses; and the allergy aisle at the my local pharmacy was as picked over as the Halloween costume section at Target on November first.

I myself invested in a jumbo pack of over-the-counter antihistamines and took regular puffs from my asthma inhaler. It seemed to me that the volume of allergy sufferers was higher than ever, shuffling around in a red-eyed-stuffy-nosed trance like the legions of zombies in one of those cheap Hollywood horror movies.

I love fall too: the changing colors, the bite in the morning air, the desire to curl up with a good book and something warm and yummy to drink. As with spring though, sometimes the idea of it is better than the actual season. For example,  if you think it’s time to put your Benadryl on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet, think again. About three out of four people who experience allergic reactions to springtime irritants are also allergic to fall’s major culprit: ragweed. Based on meteorological analysis, allergy sufferers should brace themselves for another few months of itching, sneezing, and wheezing. As inconceivable as it might sound, the impending autumn months might be worse than this spring.

The apparent increase in allergy sufferers this year has not been an illusion: a multitude of local and national news sources claim that by May 2011, allergies had reached record highs. Whether 2011 is, in fact, “the worst year for allergies in history” is still up for debate; however, Newsday reported that the pollen count in New York was so high that it caused a major pollen meter in Brooklyn to break.

Pollen counts are considered high at a rate of 100 pollen particles per cubic meter of air. By May of 2011, national records reflected counts as high as 6,000.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study of pollen levels between 1995 and 2009 found that environmental triggers in 10 locations across the country have steadily increased each year. Every spring since 2009 has begun with warnings of record-high pollen counts—and antihistamine use. This spring’s increase was compounded by heavy snow, rain, wind, and the sudden arrival of warm weather.

The epic proportions of allergens are mirrored by increased statistics of sufferers. According to the National Institute of Health, the number of people with allergies is two to five times higher than it was thirty years ago. The NIH also estimates that over 50 million Americans (approximately one in five) suffer with indoor and/or outdoor allergies—and hay fever is the fifth leading chronic disease among adults.

“The immune system is designed to fight off invaders such as viruses and bacteria,” said Kathleen Corley, a nurse practitioner in the allergy division at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard-affiliated hospital in Boston. “In an allergic reaction, your immune system overreacts to substances that are generally harmless, such as pollen or cats. When it overreacts, it produces specific IgE antibodies that cause activation of mast cells.”

This activation is what leads to allergic reactions, and because mast cells are present on mucous membrane and skin, allergies manifest as rashes, congestion, and sneezing.

During allergy season, this process is exacerbated by the sudden increase in pollen, produced to aid in the reproduction of seed plants, including grass, trees, flowers, and weeds. In spring, pollen is responsible for the lush meadows and blossoming rosebushes that romantic poets have gushed over for centuries (these poets obviously never experienced an allergic reaction). While fall is not known for an abundance of colorful plants and flowers, ragweed pollen (the season’s biggest allergy trigger) leads to similar allergic reactions. These microscopic flecks of pollen float in the air, where all of us breathe them in, which explains why allergies usually affect the nose and lungs.

Climate Change Hypothesis

According to a Huffington Post article, many allergists, environmentalists, and several other “-ists” theorize that the increase in allergens is linked to global warming. Pollination is triggered as soon as the warmth and humidity of spring sets in. Longer growing seasons create more pollen from allergenic trees and plants. The increase in CO2, the second most prevalent “greenhouse gas” (water vapor is first), enables ragweed—our principle autumnal nemesis—to produce more pollen.

Hygiene Hypothesis

Another explanation for the increase in allergies in North America over the past few years is known as the Hygiene Hypothesis. “People in areas where diseases are less common have more allergies,” Corley claims. This hypothesis states that in developed countries, where running water, good hygiene, good health care, and vaccinations are common, our immune systems don’t often have to fight serious disease, so they react to allergens instead. “It’s as if the immune system is looking for something to do.”

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the cost of our overactive immune systems goes beyond individual discomfort. Collectively, our itchy eyes, noses and throats impact the national economy in a scary way:

• Every year, over 17 million doctors’ visits are allergy-related. Half of these visits are caused by seasonal allergies.
• As a country, we spent $5.7 billion on allergy medication every year.
• Allergy related doctor visits total $300 million annually.
• Hay fever results in nearly 4 million missed workdays each year, resulting in an annual $700 million in lost productivity. Either seasonal allergies have become an epidemic, or we’ve come up with a trendy adult version of the dog eating our homework.

Now What?

OK, so we’re spending a ton of money on allergy medication and our national productivity is sputtering and wheezing along with us. My question is this: What can we do for the 50 million Americans who can’t stop sniffling, coughing, and itching for months on end? Personally, I’m sick of managing the side effects of allergy medications—some drugs cause drowsiness, others affect mood, and most of them are pretty damn expensive. I’m boycotting my allergist’s office, where I’ve wasted too much time being poked by needles and waiting for test results (the months-long wait list for this particular physician indicates that at least someone is profiting from all this pollen).

So I went on a quest for natural solutions to allergy symptoms, and my findings included five pleasantly surprising options without side effects, pills, shots, or doctor visits.

1. Basic self-care: The key to fighting allergies is preparation. Seeing as it’s September, I recommend planning for both fall and spring allergy seasons now. If you are afflicted with allergy-related discomforts and neglect to adequately plan for the two seemingly endless seasons of allergic reactions, then you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. I myself practice selective memory: after a lifetime of regular allergy attacks that start every March and run like clockwork until November, I am genuinely surprised each spring by the sudden downpour of clumpy pollen strands and the asthma and congestion they consistently cause.

The most basic measure of self-protection is to maintain a healthy immune system. The following measures will aid your body in its fight against allergy triggers, and if you stick with it, your general health and energy level will improve. The basic steps to strengthening immunity include:

• Sleep: make sure to get at least seven hours every night, and try to stick to a regular schedule.
• Exercise is also essential in keeping your body strong in its fight against allergic reactions. Even 30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week will boost your immunity.
• Diet: Nutrient deficiencies weaken the immune system, so make sure you’re getting enough calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Basically, try to eat less oil, saturated fat, and red meat, and stock your kitchen with fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
• Smoking: Forgive the obviousness of the next tip: Don’t smoke. Don’t hang out around smokers. First- and second-hand smoke triggers allergies.

2. Neti pots and nasal irrigation: I’ve found this method to be most effective in clearing up frustrating congestion. Neti pots, which range in design from ceramic teapots to simple plastic bottles, have been popular since their original use in ancient India.

I should warn you that nasal irrigation is a pretty uncomfortable practice, or perhaps more accurately, it just feels weird. Neti pots use the miracle of gravity to flush the nasal cavities with saline solution, which deep-cleans the entire sinus region. Sinus irritation causes pressure, post-nasal drip, itchy nose, headaches, runny nose, and that awful stuffed-up feeling that just can’t be solved with a tissue. The sensation of warm saline solution flowing up one side of your nose and down the other will be strange at first, but the effectiveness of this method is evidenced by the gross stuff that’s forced out. Finally, a visible culprit for the endless sleepless nights of fruitless nose-blowing and mouth-breathing.

If your allergies are giving you sinus problems, try nasal irrigation. Different models are available at drug stores, and the most basic plastic bottles (which can actually be more efficient because they add pressure to the flow of saline) can cost as little as $10.

I recommend talking to your doctor about methods of nasal irrigation. Corley is a big believer, but she prefers squeeze bottles of nasal mist over Neti pots. She also says it’s often necessary to demonstrate its use to her patients, because achieving maximal effectiveness requires placing the bottle at a specific angle to get the irrigation to the right place in the sinuses. A doctor or nurse can show you how to really make this method work.

3. Keep the house clean: Although it would be impossible to sweep up all of the clumps of pollen carpeting the sidewalks (I’ve thought about it), you can make your living environment allergen-free. According to the EPA, indoor air is up to five times more polluted with allergens and triggers than outdoor air.

• Take off your shoes when you walk into your house.
• Never use window fans that blow air in from the outside.
• Kick the dog off of your bed – even if he keeps great company at night, he undoubtedly carries a plethora of allergens in his fur (no matter how short it is) from hanging out outside and rolling around on the ground. You don’t want to burrow your face in a pillow filled with microscopic pollen, especially since most respiratory attacks occur at night.
• If you have central air or a swamp cooler, change the filter as often as possible.
• Invest in an air purifier. As the name suggests, they clean the air in your house by filtering out pollen and pollution.

4. Acupuncture: Dating back up to 8,000 years, acupuncture is thought to relieve pain, treat disease, and stabilize general health. Acupuncturists and proponents of the practice believe that the body contains meridians through which “qi,” or life energy, flows, and this energy is redistributed through the insertion of small needles into afflicted body parts. In the treatment of allergies, acupuncturists aim to regulate the immune system’s response to allergens and focus on the stabilization of the lungs.

In 1997, the NIH issued a consensus statement on acupuncture stating that although it’s difficult to research the effectiveness of acupuncture, they uniformly supported the expansion of its use. The NIH also urged insurance companies to include acupuncture in their coverage in an effort to make the treatment more accessible.

5. Herbs and supplements: Homeopathic products have been proven to alleviate symptoms without the side effects caused by traditional western medications. Try one or more of the following herbs and supplements to combat your symptoms:

• Butterbur: This herb blocks chemicals that trigger swelling in the nasal passages. Studies compare its effectiveness to Zyrtec.
• Chamomile: This is a good option for those of us who experience breathing problems during allergy season. Chamomile slows down respiratory symptoms and increases the production of cortisone in the adrenal glands.
• Quercetin: This supplement, derived from wine, fruits, and vegetables, blocks the release of histamines that cause inflammation. Added bonus: it reduces free radicals that can lead to cancer.
• Stinging nettle: This herb can be used to make tinctures and teas, and it’s also available in capsules. Stinging nettle, which is comparable to pharmaceutical antihistamines, inhibits the body’s production of histamines. Histamines are the neuro-transmitter produced by your body when you’re having an allergic reaction. Antihistamines (such as Benadryl and Claritin) block these neurotransmitters from attaching to neuro-receptors and prevent allergy symptoms.
• Other allergy supplements: Sinupret, Echinacea, grape seed extract, vitamin C

I wish you luck in your experimentation with these natural remedies for the annual torture of seasonal allergies. Cross your fingers that they work so you can enjoy the rest of the summer and transition into fall without collapsing into asthma attacks or sneezing until we can’t see straight.

For more information, visit National Jewish Health and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

 

Tagged as: allergies, butterbur, camomile, cost of allergies, hay fever, nasal irrigation, neti pots, pollen, pollen counts, quercetin, ragweed, stinging nettle