Coping With San Diego’s Year-Round Allergy Season

More than one quarter of adults in the United States have a seasonal allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one-fifth of children have a seasonal allergy.

Common allergy symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Congestion
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Scratchy throat

Many people with allergies also have sinus problems. Allergy-induced asthma is the most common type of asthma in the U.S.

To know if you have a cold or allergies, look at your symptoms and how often they happen. This can help identify the cause.

Colds are caused by viruses and allergies are caused by reactions to things like pollen. Both have similar symptoms, such as a runny or blocked nose and sneezing, but there are differences.

• Only allergies result in itching (eyes, ears, nose and throat).
• Only colds can result in fevers.
• Colds are contagious, but allergies cannot.
• Colds take a few days to develop, while allergies start soon after being exposed to an allergen.

In many parts of the country, house dust mites are seasonal, requiring humidity to reproduce. But in San Diego, they can be found in high quantities year-round. They live in bedding, furniture, and clothes, eating dead skin cells.

Between the humidity of the rainy season and homes that aren’t completely weather-tight, the months between October and March are especially troublesome for people who are sensitive to these tiny bugs.

During the most active allergen periods, people affected can generally manage their own symptoms at home. Dr. Simon recommends five tips that can help.

Knowing what triggers your allergies is important in order to avoid or limit exposure:

• Keep windows closed during high pollen days and hours.
• If you’re allergic to pet dander, bathe your pet, vacuum floors and furniture and wash bedding regularly.
• Use allergen-proof covers on mattress and pillows.
• Wear a mask when pollen levels are high or around allergens, especially when cleaning or near outdoor irritants like dust or smoke.
• Clean home regularly, trim trees, mow lawn, pull weeds to reduce pollen around the house.
• An air purifier with a HEPA filter can reduce indoor allergens.

Regular rinsing of the nasal passages with saline solution can help clear allergens and irritants. Use a neti pot or nasal irrigator.

The stream or mist of water should be gentle, not forceful. Some people who have had sinus surgery can use electric irrigators. However, Dr. Simon does not typically recommend them for only allergy symptoms.

Antihistamines are effective in relieving sneezing, itching and runny nose by blocking histamine, a substance your body makes during an allergic reaction. They can be taken as needed or daily during allergy season to control symptoms. Some are available in non-sedating forms.

Dr. Simon says nearly all allergy medicines now have less expensive generic equivalents and are available over the counter.

For congestion that can result from constant exposure to allergens, Dr. Simon says it’s important to choose a decongestant, not an antihistamine.

Some over-the counter antihistamine medications with a “D” also contain a decongestant in them. They can help reduce swelling in the nose and sinuses as well as the itching, sneezing and watering of the eyes and nose. However, they can also cause nervousness, fast heartbeats, insomnia and in some people increased blood pressure.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays, such as Flonase, can help with allergies by reducing inflammation and symptoms. They’re affordable and can treat most allergy symptoms effectively.

“I tell people to try it for a month,” he says. “In addition to relieving their allergy symptoms, it allows them to resume normal activities without discomfort. Many people come back and say, ‘Oh, this is how I’m supposed to feel! I can sleep and taste my food again and my energy is back!’”