Allergy Season In Full Bloom
Mother Lode residents with hay fever know that the allergy season is in full bloom.
A warm winter, followed with a snowy beginning of spring and now the heat, has brought out much of the tree pollen all at once.
Calaveras County Health Officer Dr. Dean Kelaita says in the last two weeks he has seen a big increase in patients with seasonal allergy symptoms. Dr. Kelata says in the Mother Lode spring allergies are often related to tree pollen such as Oak and Mulberry, while in the summer grass allergies become a problem. The reason, he said, is that the pollen (that can be seen as a dust covering parked cars) gets into the mucosa of the nasal passage. If your body has developed an allergy to that pollen it releases a chemical called histamine.
Dr. Kelaita’s says “There are some things people can do, they can avoid pollens, they can avoid things that they’re are sensitive to, and if you do get allergy symptoms antihistamines can help.” He noted that antihistamine medications like Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec are available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy.
