A special climate message from ‘Your Allergy Nurse’

Don’t forget to consider health issues other than allergies when evaluating a climate change. Here in Arkansas many of us dread the hot humid days of summer. The air is heavy and it is hard to breathe. Mold counts soar, grass pollen thrives, and it becomes an allergy sufferer’s nightmare. During the winter we have short periods of dry humidity, but snow and ice keep things moist for the most part.

However, this is proving to be an extremely dry winter for us. Wild fires and burn bans prevail in our region. We frequently hear the words “record-breaking lows” to describe the humidity and rainfall levels. I’m getting a taste of what winter feels like in a more arid climate.

I have rosacea, a skin condition which affects my face and eyes. My face is not too bad, but my eyes are very dry. During recent weeks, my eyes have often felt like they were full of sand. I finally figured out that it must be the dry weather. This past weekend, I dug out my old humidifier (vaporizer). It was a big help…as long as I stayed near it. But when I went to a different place, the dryness soon returned.

Finally last night we had some rain, and my eyes have felt much better today. We are still under a burn ban because of the drought, and forecasters are not promising any significant rainfall in the near future. We will make it through this winter and see the humid days of summer again, no doubt. But those in arid climates experience this year ’round. While their climates may be beneficial for allergies, they may not be ideal for those who suffer with skin problems, dry eyes, or other health concerns. Look at how moving to a different climate will affect your overall health before you start packing your bags.

Interestingly, here in Arkansas we’ve had unusually warm temperatures and high wind along with the low moisture. This has prolonged the allergy season for us. It’s more like spring time, rather than the chilling January weather we usually experience. Local pharmacists report that the cold and flu medicines they usually sell in January have taken a back shelf to allergy medicines this January.