Five myths about spring allergies

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canada goose clearance by Neeta Ogden May 18 Follow DrNeetaOgdenMD canada goose outlet Neeta Ogden is an canada goose clearance adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist in private practice in New Jersey and host of the forthcoming podcast series "Dear Doctorx." canada goose clearance

cheap Canada Goose Every year, forecasters seem to predict that the worst Canada Goose Outlet ever allergy season is canada goose black friday sale ahead. And year after year, the pollen counts canada goose coats indeed get worse, partly because of climate change. Spring allergy season brings 50 million sneezing and wheezing Americans to pharmacy aisles, health food stores and doctors' offices looking for relief. But the causes and treatments of seasonal allergies are still the subject of some persistent myths. Here are the biggest ones. cheap Canada Goose

Canada Goose Parka Myth No. 1 Canada Goose Parka

canada goose factory sale Taking allergy medicine daily can make it stop working. canada goose factory sale

canada goose store Allergists like me constantly canada goose deals confront patients who believe this and who don't take their medication properly as a result. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's online "Ask the Expert" feature even fielded a question from a physician recently asking if "daily antihistamines.. can result in tolerance." canada goose store

But multiple studies have debunked this concern. While it is a common complaint among allergy sufferers, the reality is that taking daily allergy medications does not lead to tolerance. Patients who think their medicines aren't working anymore may be finding that their symptoms are getting worse because of new allergies or a move to a new city or home. Longer, more intense allergy seasons may mean medicines that used to work well are no longer as effective. Some allergy sufferers don't take their medication correctly or believe wrongly that all medications are the same.

cheap canada goose uk There is some overuse of some over the counter nasal decongestant sprays, which offer temporary, quick relief of congestion. Doctors often see dependence on these sprays, especially when treating chronic nasal congestion which can affect sleeping, eating and general quality of life. Continued use of these types of sprays can actually cause rebound congestion and worsening nasal congestion, called rhinitis medicamentosa. To avoid this, people should stop using these sprays after three days. But intranasal steroids, a cornerstone of seasonal allergy treatment, are not habit forming and can be used throughout the spring. cheap canada goose uk

uk canada goose outlet Myth No. 2 uk canada goose outlet

Canada Goose Outlet Blooming spring flowers cause allergies. Canada Goose Outlet

Canada Goose Online Media coverage of spring allergy season routinely includes images of allergy sufferers next to bright flowers. "With spring flowers come allergies," the local NBC affiliate in Helena, Mont., reported last month. Patients often tell me they think pollen from dogwood and cherry blossoms, among other classic spring blooms, is causing their sneezing. Canada Goose Online

uk canada goose Actually, springtime allergies are caused by buy canada goose jacket tree pollen, not flowers. The most allergenic trees like oak, birch or maple don't have showy blooms. Their impact is significant because they Canada Goose sale produce a lot of pollen, which is designed to be wind borne and can travel miles. Trees with pretty flowers, such as dogwoods or cherries; planted bulbs like tulips; and flowering bushes such as hydrangeas, roses and azaleas attract insects for pollination. So their pollen is rarely airborne and doesn't lead to allergies, though it could be an irritant if someone gets too close. uk canada goose

Myth No. 3

canada goose clearance sale A cold winter and a late spring mean allergies won't be so bad. canada goose clearance sale

Canada Goose sale This year, as late as mid April, when allergy https://www.gooseyou.com season is usually well underway, much of the United States was still tackling winter colds, viruses, even flu. This may have led many to believe that spring allergies wouldn't be too bad. Local Canada Goose online news reports from Wisconsin to Rhode Island declared that tree allergy season was "delayed" or "stalled" by the Canada Goose Parka lingering winter. Canada Goose sale

In fact, canada goose store spring allergies start well before spring. The plant life cycle begins in winter, with snow and Canada Goose Jackets rain providing moisture essential cheap Canada Goose for growth. cities are already recording pollen in the canada goose clearance sale air, especially in the South. Studies show that warmer temperatures and higher CO2 levels associated with climate change are contributing to earlier, more robust plant growth and pollination. As canada goose a result, one 2013 study at Rutgers University found, allergy season has been increasing in length by about half a day for the past 20 years. A "late" start to spring doesn't mean much when the Earth is generally warmer, the seasons are longer and pollen exposure is more intense.

Canada Goose Coats On Sale Myth No. 4 Canada Goose Coats On Sale

canada goose Allergies aren't a problem until pollen is everywhere. canada goose

canadian goose jacket This time of the season is the busiest for allergists' offices, with people tending to wait until allergies truly peak and they feel truly miserable to seek help. A 2015 study in the journal Environmental Health found that over the counter allergy medication sales correlated with canadian goose jacket the peak dates of spring allergy season. canadian goose jacket

canada goose coats But if you see a dusting of yellow pollen everywhere, it may be too late to treat canada goose coats on sale allergies effectively. Most allergists recommend that their patients start treatment at least two weeks before the season begins. The end of winter means the miserable cycle of symptoms we typically associate with spring is already underway. When temperatures first begin to warm, allergy sufferers are exposed to some pollen, which can trigger mild symptoms. Often, temperatures dip again and pollen exposure is minimal, but when warmer temperatures and higher pollen counts return, the body is "primed" and hyper reactive. Even minimal amounts of pollen can cause a strong reaction upon reexposure. Physiologically, the priming effect is due to increased nasal membrane reactivity with repeated exposure to pollen. Once priming occurs, it can take days to weeks to reverse hence the benefit of being armed with allergy medications early. canada goose coats

Myth No. 5

Eating local honey will cure allergies.

buy canada goose jacket cheap But while honey may have some antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties, the idea that it can prevent allergies is a misconception. The theory is that as bees move among flowers, they pick up pollen spores that are then transferred to their honey; gradual exposure to these local allergens allegedly provides immunity. The concept isn't so off base: Allergen immunotherapy, or "allergy shots," works in a similar fashion, but the shots contain a much higher concentration of pollen than the minimal amount in honey. Besides, the pollen that causes allergies is wind borne and doesn't come from the flower pollen that bees disseminate. buy canada goose jacket cheap

Canada Goose Jackets A 2002 study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology followed three groups of allergy sufferers through the spring allergy season. One group consumed a daily tablespoon of locally sourced honey; another ate commercial honey; a third was given a corn syrup placebo with honey flavor. The subjects' symptoms were recorded, and after several months, scientists found that honey had no benefits over the placebo. Canada Goose Jackets

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