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Health & Fitness

The Power of Pollen: Get Ahead of Hay Fever This Spring

Pollen, mold and dust mites - spring means hay fever is in full bloom! Find out what you can do to prevent and treat this uncomfortable condition.

Victoria Gestner works with Midwest ENT Consultants, who are ear, nose and throat doctors with offices in various locations, including Plainfield. She wrote this in conjunction with Dr. Sandra Banas, a physician with Midwest ENT Consultants.

Q. What is the cause of hay fever?

A. Hay fever is a common term used to describe the congestion, sneezing and itching associated with your body's allergic response to airborne substances such as pollen, molds or dust mites. Allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies one or more of these substances as something harmful, releasing chemicals such as histamine that leave you reaching for a box of tissues. Despite the name, hay fever does not mean you're allergic to hay. In fact, hay fever is rarely triggered by hay, and it does not cause a fever.

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Q. Why do allergies often get worse at the start of spring?

A. As the weather warms and the days lengthen, trees and grass start to come alive, releasing pollen. Tree pollen is found at high levels in the air in spring, and grass pollen adds to the mix by late spring. Additionally, fungus and mold can be found in the air we breathe year-round, but they tend to be worse in the warmer months. As we spend more time outdoors in the nice weather, allergy symptoms are often triggered.

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Q. What are the symptoms of hay fever?

A. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, coughing, and swelling under the eyes. However, allergies can lead to pressure and inflammation of the sinuses, asthma and ear symptoms, such as ear pressure, popping and muffled hearing.

Q. What can people who suffer from allergies do in order to prevent allergy symptoms?

A. Allergy symptoms can be prevented if the substance activating the immune system can be completely avoided, but this is often easier said than done. For example, a reaction to tree pollens can be reduced by staying indoors with the windows closed. Allergy testing can help to identify which substances your body reacts to, thereby guiding avoidance.

Q. How is hay fever treated?

A. Medications commonly used to treat the symptoms of hay fever include nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines. Rinsing substances such as mucus and pollen out of the nose with a saline sinus rinse can also bring relief. For those with prolonged or severe symptoms, “immunotherapy” can change the underlying immune system response instead of temporarily treating the symptoms. Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots, involves repeatedly injecting a small amount of the substance that causes an allergic reaction under the skin. A newer method of immunotherapy involves daily administration of drops of the same substance under the tongue at home. In fact, Midwest ENT is pleased to be introducing this “sublingual” therapy this spring.

About Sandra Banas, MD

Dr. Sandra Banas joined Midwest ENT Consultants in 2010. Her training was completed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Cook County Hospital, and following residency she completed additional fellowship training in the medical and surgical management of ear diseases and vertigo under the guidance of Dr. Michael Paparella, one of the originators of the field of Otology. Banas has published and presented multiple papers on her clinical and scientific research for peer-reviewed societies at national meetings.

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