Health: What's Causing This Year's Bad Allergy Season?
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An explosion of pollen is making people miserable. This is an especially bad allergy season. Many people are going to emergency rooms, and the Philadelphia Health Department has issued an advisory. CBS 3 health reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on why it's so bad, and tells you the simple things you do can right now to breathe easier.
Breathing has been a problem for 16-year-old Ashleigh Bisingnaro. She has allergies and uses an inhaler, but now she also needs nebulizer treatments because her asthma has been so bad.
"It makes it harder to breathe," Ashleigh said. "Like, you feel like you're going to pass out or something."
Early May has brought what some are calling a pollen tsunami. Tree and grass pollen are extremely high at the same time, which is unusual. You can blame our nasty winter, which dragged through March.
Emergency rooms in Philadelphia have seen a significant increase in the number of people with asthma problems related to the high pollen counts. That triggered an advisory from the city's health department, warning all doctors that they may see more patients.
Dr. George L. Martin, chief of the division of allergy and immunology at Lankenau Medical Center, says it's one of the worst spring allergy seasons he's ever seen.
"We're having a major problem," Dr. Martin said. "People find it harder to breathe because they have all this mucus clogging their airways, and then they develop adema, or swelling, of the airways, just like you develop adema, or swelling, in your nose, an inflammation in your airways as well."
Warner Bailey doesn't have asthma, just severe allergies. His regular medicine isn't working, so he's back for a new round of testing, hoping to find a remedy.
"Mostly headaches," Warner said. "I got a lot of runny nose, sneezing. It's a very cloudy feeling. It's no fun. It's been a struggle this spring, especially."
We know antihistamines and decongestants can help. There are many types. There are also prescription nasal sprays. This year for the first time, the nasal spray Flonase is available over the counter.
When you come in from outside, you can be covered with pollen you can't see. You want to try to keep it out of the house.
First, take off your shoes and get your clothes off and into the washing machine as soon as you can. Take a shower, and don't forget to wash your hair; it's a pollen magnet. An air filter may help clear the air. And remember to keep the windows closed to keep the pollen out.
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