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Amanda Butterfield reportingThe next eight months are going to be miserable for an estimated 35 million Americans because of allergies and hay fever. Even with the rain today, certain pollens are off the charts in Utah.
Usually the rain washes away pollen from the air to give sufferers a little relief, but not today. It's the trees that are the worst right now.
"I looked up exactly which trees. Cedar is off the charts today," said Jenny Johnson, health program specialist with the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program.
But don't forget, mulberry, oak, birch and sycamore. "The pollen counts are skyrocketing for a lot of the tree pollens," Johnson said.
Johnson says staying inside can help if you suffer from hay fever. "I know it's hard in spring when you want to be outside, but that's where all the pollen and mold are."
She also recommends you keep your car windows rolled up and dry your laundry indoors to keep mold and pollen off of it.
"Some people may need to talk to their doctors if their allergies are really, really bad," Johnson said.
Dr. Greg Wickern, of Intermountain Allergy and Asthma, recommends you get on an antihistamine fast if you have any symptoms. "The pills are your antihistamines," he said. "You will only play catch-up if you only start using medicines once you become miserable."
Amber Matthews has tried every allergy pill and nasal spray available. "[I get] itchy eyes, you know, watery eyes, itchy skin, blowing your nose constantly," she said.
Now she hopes injections for the next six months will relieve her symptoms. "I'm allergic to grasses, animals and trees," she said.
And Wickern says there's an explanation if suddenly you're suffering this season with itchy eyes and sneezing and never have before. "You've probably had an increase in allergic antibody levels that finally, this year, combined with exposure produces the sneezing, congestion, watery nose," he said.
And one more note about pollen and allergies in the valley: The inversion and bad air can trigger allergic reactions and make them worse.
Here are some more tips from the Utah Department of Health on how to help control your allergy symptoms:
- Keep windows closed at night to prevent pollen and mold from drifting into your home.
- Reduce activity between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when pollen counts are higher.
- Stay indoors on windy days and when the pollen count or humidity is high.
- Let someone else mow the lawn and stay away from freshly-cut lawns. Mowing stirs up pollen and mold.
For the pollen count, click the related link.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
