C.S.I. Reference Articles

Spring is in the Air - Literally

The grass is green, the birds are singing, kids are laughing and we are sneezing. With the season of spring comes another season, the Allergy season. Even though Allergies are year round, we seem to get a bigger symptom dose in the spring. Why? What are Allergies anyway and how do we know if we have an allergy? Why do we seem to get a lot of Allergies in the Conejo Valley and what do we do about them?

First off, Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system. People who have allergies have a hyper-alert immune system that overreacts to a substance in the environment called an allergen. Exposure to what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen (produced by plants and trees in the spring), mold, dust mites, animal dander, food, insect stings, latex, and medications, causes the immune system to react as if the substance is harmful.

Allergies are a very common problem, affecting at least 2 out of every 10 Americans.

If the allergen is in the air, the allergic reaction will occur in the eyes, nose, and lungs. If the allergen is ingested, the allergic reaction will occur in the mouth, stomach, and intestines.

Allergy symptoms can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe (anaphylactic).

Mild reactions include those symptoms that affect a specific area of the body such as a rash or hives, itchy, watery eyes, and some congestion. Mild reactions do not spread to other parts of the body.

Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of the body. These may include itchiness or difficulty breathing.

A severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body. It may begin with the sudden onset of itching of the eyes or face and within minutes progress to more serious symptoms, including varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Mental confusion or dizziness may also be symptoms, since anaphylaxis causes a quick drop in blood pressure.⁽¹⁾

Not all people have allergies. Studies say that most allergies are inherited, which means they are passed on to children by their parents. People inherit a tendency to be allergic, although not to any specific allergen. When one parent is allergic, their child has a 50% chance of having allergies. That risk jumps to 75% if both parents have allergies.

Reducing the risk and becoming educated on possible risk factors is a powerful way to decrease allergic reactions In the Conejo Valley, the main environmental allergens are Oak, cedar/juniper and Mulberry. Since these trees pollinate in the spring you may want to avoid planting these trees near your house. Look for species like dogwood, plum, redbud and redwood to plant instead. If you suffer from environmental allergies, check out: http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies.

Prevent mold allergies by avoiding activities that trigger symptoms, such as raking leaves. Keep windows and doors closed, and make sure moist places in the home, such as the garage, kitchens and bathrooms, are well ventilated. Negative ion emitter ozone air purifiers can also give relief to people by precipitating out most allergens, while placing ozone in the air and giving lungs access to more oxygen. Use special bedding designed to keep out dust mites. It also helps to clean their houses more often to reduce dander that cause cat allergies and dog allergies.

In a recent study in Allergy, researchers evaluated the link between dietary fats and the risk of developing allergies. They examined 462 children, 3 to 18 years old, comparing the occurrence of allergies to dietary information. The children were studied over a nine-year period.

The results indicated that prior to developing allergies, allergy sufferers had used more margarine and less butter than the other children. Also, the level of fatty acids obtained from fish was higher in non-allergic kids than in those with skin allergies.

Providing too much margarine and not enough butter in your child's diet may be related to the development of allergies. Eating fish also may reduce allergy symptoms.

The antioxidant properties of vitamin E has shown to assist the body in the battle against allergy symptoms, according to the results of a recent study published in the British journal The Lancet. Data drawn from a random sample of 2,633 adults (18-70 years old) showed that increased intake of vitamin E reduced levels of the allergy-related antibody IgE. This relationship proved incremental, such that each one-milligram increase in vitamin E (up to a maximum of seven milligrams) corresponded with more than a five percent decrease in serum antibody levels. Good sources of vitamin E include cold-pressed vegetable oils, dark-green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Laboratory tests show a compound found in the tea blocks the production of two substances in the body that trigger and sustain allergic reactions (histamine and immunoglobulin E, or IgE). Researchers say they don't know how much green tea a person would have to drink to get allergy relief. Neither do they know which varieties of green tea might work best. "Green tea appears to be a promising source for effective anti-allergenic agents, "says researcher Hirofumi Tachibana, associate professor of chemistry at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in a news release." If you have allergies, you should consider drinking it.

Research also shows that administration of certain immunizations before children weigh 25 pounds and are able to handle invasion of their immune systems can trigger an allergic reaction. We know that the DPT vaccine has been responsible for upper-respiratory infections and otitis media within days and often hours after its administration. High temperatures; runny noses; irritability; seizures; and pneumonia are not uncommon.

A combination allergy medication treatment involving antihistamines and decongestants also has been well studied and shows "greater improvement" in all symptoms - especially sneezing and runny nose - than either treatment alone.

Spring is an awesome time of the year. It's a time of growth, sunshine and outdoor activities. With a little planning and taking certain preventative measures, you too can take an active role in this fantastic season.