This allergy season is dreadful, isnt it?
Butisit worse than usual this year, or am I just a big baby?
And to find out what to do about it.
Confirmed: Its terrible.
Theyarepretty bad this year, said Patel.
And because theyre more fertile, theyre releasing more pollen earlier in the season.
All those play a role in making patients miserable.
So what can we do to feel better?
Patel lays out his typical lines of defense for the allergy sufferer.
Find out what youre actually allergic to.
The first thing thats useful to know is what youre allergic to.
Dust mites or cockroaches can potentiate [worsen] spring allergies, he says.
If youre miserable, talk to an allergist.
I know, its spring, its lovely, you want the breezes.
But shut the windows, especially at night.
Its actually at dawn when the trees start to drop their pollen, and that enters your home.
Take a shower before bed.
And wash your hair, says Patel.
That way youre not dragging all the pollen into your pillow and rubbing your face in it all night.
Start any drugs two months ago.
All allergy medications work best if you start them before symptoms appear and use them consistently throughout the season.
You wont be hit as hard when the trees are in full blossom, says Patel.
The first line of defense is the newer antihistamines, says Patel.
(He doesnt recommend the older, drowsy-making drugs like Benadryl anymore.)
Dont scratch your eyes.
Press a cool compress to your eyes instead.
Scratching releases more of the histamine and drives the pollen into the tissues.
Change your HVAC filters twice a year.
Air purifiers and stuff like that dont do anything, so I dont recommend those to patients.
Its really just changing your air filter on your furnace or your AC thats important.
He says he has had some patients whove had luck with wearing eye protection.
It looks a little bit funny, but wearing eye goggles can keep the pollen out of your eyes.
Allergy eye drops (like ketotifen) [will help too].
A course of injections is the only cure for seasonal allergies.
So what does this mean, going forward?
Is the human race just going to extinguish itself in a fit of sneezes a hundred years from now?
Does Dr. Patel see things getting better?
He replies: I honestly dont think its going to get better.
I think things are going to become even worse because a lot of environmental-control regulations are being stripped out.
Pollution makes seasonal allergies even worse: Polluted cities actually have superallergens.
Things like diesel exhaust particulate will actually make an allergen much stronger.
So the same amount of pollen feels much worse in New York City than in Omaha.
Lucky Nebraskans, sad New Yorkers.
