Nationwide, allergies affect more than 50 million Americans and cause an estimated 3.6 million workdays to be lost each year. In addition, 2 million school days per year are lost due to allergies. It is Important for consumers to treat allergies and not just “live” with them. Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose.
Pollen levels in Chicago have been bothersome. The predominant pollens right now are from elm, juniper and poplar trees.
In Chicago, tree pollen is particularly bad this time of year; flowers (an allergy myth) are unlikely to trigger allergy symptoms as flower pollen is heavy, waxy and sticky and unlikely to become airborne
Indoor allergy triggers include dust mites, animal dander, mold, cockroach droppings
Currently, the pollen count for the area around campus is predicted to be 8.6 by Sunday (4/4). Pollen levels between 8.1 and 12.0 tend to affect most individuals who suffer from the pollen types of the season. Symptoms may become more severe during days with high pollen levels.
Beating Allergies in the Windy City
• Monitor pollen counts (www.pollen.com) – highest pollen conditions occur on dry, windy days
• When pollen counts are high:
- Stay indoors if possible, pollen counts are the highest between 5am-10am
- Don’t line dry clothes or air out rugs outside, etc. You will just bring the pollen into your house
- Keep the windows closed in the house; use air-conditioning, change the filters frequently
- If driving, keep the windows closed and use the air-conditioner set to re-circulate air rather than bring in fresh air from the outside
- If you spend time outdoors on high pollen days, take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes when you get home to get rid of any pollen that may have built up on you or your hair or clothes; have children change their clothes when they come in from playing outside
• Nonprescription (OTC) medications are available to treat allergies but there are differences between them
- Talk to your pharmacist about OTC allergy medications – a non-sedating antihistamine like Claritin is a good option for most people including children over the age of 2. Relief from allergy symptoms begins within around an hour
- Before getting behind the wheel, allergy sufferers need to carefully read labels on OTC medicines for precautions such as ‘marked drowsiness may occur’ and ‘be careful when driving a motor vehicle’ and heed those warnings
Getting the most from your nonprescription allergy medicines
• Read the label, be sure you are not taking multiple products (Rx or OTC) containing the same ingredient (for example, some allergy products and some products for insomnia contain the exact same active ingredient (diphenhydramine); by taking them together, you are double dosing and can have side effects)
• Follow the directions. Don’t skip doses
• If you have questions, ask your UIC pharmacist! Don't suffer this allergy season, we can help!
Jan Engle, Pharm.D., FAPhA
Executive Associate dean
Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice
UIC College of Pharmacy
Past President, American Pharmacists Association
