What comes after winter in New Mexico? Allergy season. And it has arrived in full force. Juniper pollen counts were close to 500 last time I checked, and that is high, in case your nose hadn't noticed. Next will come mulberry and other trees, then a summer full of grass itches and, finally, sneezy fall weeds. Yessiree, there's a lot to look forward to if you're an allergic person.
Allergies are bad in New Mexico because our climate is dry, meaning the pollen doesn't get rained out of the air. Add to that our famous spring winds, and the result is a face full of pollen. If you never had allergies anywhere else you lived, you have a good chance of developing them here.
All is not lost, however. There are things you can do. In order of increasing technical difficulty, here they are:
Avoid allergens. An allergen is whatever you're allergic to. Now, obviously you have to breathe, and you have to be outdoors sometimes, so you can't completely avoid pollen. But you might be able to choose indoor time when the wind and pollen counts are really high. Also, close your windows at night. Trees drop most of their pollen in the wee hours, so don't leave an open invitation, so to speak.
Get the allergens out of your environment. If you have indoor-outdoor pets, wipe them down when they come in. Even if you can't see it, they are covered with dust and pollen. A damp paper towel will work. Wash your pillowcase often so you don't breathe in deposited pollen particles all night. Consider an air filter.
Get the allergens off of you. Wash or rinse your hair before bed. Wash your itchy eyes with cold tears. By this, I mean put a bottle of artificial tears in the fridge, and apply liberally to fiery eyeballs. It washes the pollen out and feels oh so good. Dare to try a Neti pot. This is a little teapot-like item that you fill with salt water and pour up your nose to rinse out your sinuses. Not only does this wash the pollens and other allergens from inside your nose, it loosens the mucous and makes it much easier to clear. I have patients who do the Neti pot twice a day and don't have to do anything else or take meds for their allergies. It may sound gross, but once you try it, you'll never stop.
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Take drugs. From topical to oral, from over-the-counter to prescription, there are lots of drugs that block the allergic response. As with any medication, I recommend starting low and going slow. Try OTC eye drops and nasal sprays first, then OTC pills. If those fail, come see us for a prescription.
Allergy shots are the last resort of the desperately, miserably allergic whose symptoms don't respond to all the other measures above. If this is you, you need to see an allergist and get skin testing to see exactly what you're allergic to. The allergist will then concoct a mixture of those things and give them to you in minute amounts by injection several times a week for a few years until you are no longer allergic.
Lastly, remember the wise words of the very wise man or woman who said, "This too shall pass." Nothing is permanent. Life is always changing, and the pollen will eventually subside. Gesundheit!
Peggy Spencer, M.D., is a board-certified family physician. She has been a UNM Student Health physician for 17 years and a Daily Lobo contributing columnist for three years. She is co-author of the book 50 Ways to Leave Your 40s, released in March. Drop your questions in her box in the lobby of Student Health and Counseling, or e-mail her directly at Pspencer@unm.edu. All questions will be considered, and all questioners will remain anonymous. This column has general health information only and cannot replace a visit to a health provider.
