Ragweed may be tickling noses in much of the world, but August to mid-October is Springtime in South Africa. Tree pollen is the culprit for many of the sneezes and sniffles in this subtropical climate.

According to South Africa’s Health24, pollens that cause allergies in South Africa this time of year are Grey Alder, White Elm, Olive, London Plane, Willow and Cottonwood.

You can read more about the weather and climate of South Africa here.

Spring is the season when we throw back the curtain of winter and welcome a bright new start. Not only do we feel the urge to dig and plant outside; we want to dig out from clutter winter has imposed upon us inside too. As we freshen our homes, let’s also remember to clear out indoor allergens that have accumulated over winter.

If anyone should know how to do that, it is Katie Weaver. Katie grew up with allergies. Katie writes:

I am so glad that Americans are thinking of ways to make homes and living environments healthier. After all, when my dad worked to make our home more allergy-friendly, it drastically reduced my allergic symptoms. There are lots of simple solutions to make a healthier home, and should you want or need to hire outside service companies for cleaning or remediation, be sure that they are reputable and doing their job in the healthiest way possible.

Katie’s father used the things he had learned while helping Katie to start his own company that helps others with allergies. In 1991, when I first got into the allergy nursing field, National Allergy was in it’s infancy. But I learned from them. I’d often hold one of their patient education flyers in one hand and the phone receiver in the other as I helped a patient with allergy symptoms. A few years ago, National Allergy became one of our sponsors here at AllergyNursing.com. Today I still go to their website to look up info to help patients. I’ve learned that I can trust them to recommend only the best products and services. With all the scams and price gougers out there, that means a lot to me!

So for those who could use a little help with Spring allergy cleaning, I’m proud to recommend editor Katie Weaver’s May 2006 issue of National Allergy e-mail newsletter: Home Service Companies - Avoiding Scams and Getting the Most for Your Money.

Allergy sufferers in all climates have a common sound in the Spring. Spring is often dubbed the “Sneezin’ Season.”

People are so used to the sound of a sneeze that even the loudest “Achooooo!” rarely gets much attention. How long has it been since you saw heads turn to see who sneezed behind them during a formal lecture? But try singing or whistling ever so softly during the lecture and see what happens! So, since the sneeze is so acceptable, how should you do it?

If you thought stiffling the sneeze to lessen attention and the spread of germs is the way to go, think again. Baylor University published an item this week that praises the lowly sneeze and explains the proper technique! See:
Allergy Sufferers Should Bless Sneezing

According to the Baylor article, “The person doing the sneezing, more often than the amount or kind of irritant, determines if the sneeze comes out as a gale-force windstorm or several small ach-oos.” Click the link above to discover the best way to do it and the dangers of doing it wrong!

Traditionally, it has been felt that the cleaner, the better. For example, see:
Spring cleaning can help keep allergies in check.

Now there is new research. See:
Allergy Alert: Too clean is not good
and:
To head off allergies, expose your kids to pets and dirt early. Really.

But most still agree that if your child has asthma and allergies already, you need to limit their exposure to the things they are allergic to. At our clinic, we still recommend making the bedroom an ‘allergy-free zone’ for those with environmental allergies.

This item, provided by one of our AllergyNursing.com sponsors, shows how to do that step-by-step:
Interactive Allergy-Proof Bedroom

My friend in Australia goes camping at Christmas and sits by the fireplace in June. She’s preparing for fall now. But for much of the globe Spring has arrived, complete with lovely blooms, furious storms, and allergies.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology offers a number of tips to make life easier for those with pollen and mold allergies. Here are some ideas:

• Avoid outdoor activities in the morning if possible. Pollen counts are higher in the mornings.
• Keep doors and windows of your home and vehicle closed to keep pollen and mold spores outside.
• After outside activity, take a shower, wash your hair, and launder the clothing you wore outside to remove pollen.
• Plan camping trips, walks in the park, etc., during the “off-season” for the pollens you are allergic to. (As a general rule, trees pollinate in spring, and weeds in fall. Grasses pollinate in summer with overlap into late spring and early fall.)
• Enjoy a trip to the beach, desert, or other area with minimal vegetation during seasons of heavy pollen.
• Raking leaves and mowing lawns stirs up pollens and molds. Assign this job to someone else if possible. If you must do the job yourself, wear a mask. One of our sponsors offers a mask designed especially for yardwork or housework. See a complete selection of masks here.
• Don’t hang clothes or bedding outdoors to dry. Pollens and molds can collect on them.
• Ask your physician what medications or treatments are best for you.

For more information, see:
Tips to Remember: Outdoor Allergens, from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

According to an Associated Press report on ksl.com - Utah’s Online Source for Local News & Information, “this spring may be a bad one for allergy sufferers.” The March 6, 2006, report says that high Elm pollen counts are already being experienced in Utah, and that high Cedar pollen counts are expected.

We are experiencing high Elm pollen counts here in Arkansas as well. But we’re just sliding past our peak Cedar pollen season, which usually begins in December or January and lasts until February or early March in western Arkansas.

According to the ksl.com report, cedar season won’t begin in the Salt Lake City area for a couple more weeks, and will last till the end of April.

The report also discusses grasses and weeds in the Salt Lake City area and what to expect as far as pollen counts and seasons. Read the entire report by clicking here.

From California to New England, and from Iowa to Texas, allergy season is upon us. Reports are coming in from all but the northern-most states of spring allergies in the air.

MetroWestDailyNews.com reported today that in spite of the “unseasonably cold temperatures for the past 10 days,” record warm January temps in Massachusetts mean allergy season is soon to arrive. The article, which reported January temps of 7 to 9 degrees above average in Boston and Worcester, says, “Low-level tree pollen has already spread across most of the state.”

Of interest to those of us in the south-central area where ragweed season starts in the fall, the article cited above also reports that a warm January “is allowing the ragweed to come out earlier.”

Throughout February, and as early as January 3, reports of an early 2006 allergy season related to warm weather were blending with reports of a lingering 2005 allergy season related to rain, drought, wind, or unseasonably warm temperature. (See our January 22 report at AllergyNursing.com.)

On February 27, Radio Iowa called this “one of Iowa’s warmest winters on record.” According to the report, “quite a few people are coming in to [a local] drug store with what appears to be cold or flu-like symptoms — but they’re actually spring allergies.”

February 14 — From the California Bay area, MercuryNews.com reported: “Area allergists are reporting a surge in business…”

February 11 — From Snora, CA, MyMotherLode.com reported: “The sun has been shining more than expected, bringing allergies with the warm weather…”

January 3 — From Corpus Christi, TX, KRISTV.com reported: “Our warm weather so far this winter has been bad news for allergy sufferers.”

See also our February 4, and February 8 reports from EyesApart.com

According to WMFY News 2 in Lexington, North Carolina, “sniffling, watery eyes, sneezing and coughing are symptoms you usually deal with in the springtime. But this unusually warm weather is causing early allergy problems for many people.”

Many areas of the US have experienced unseasonably warm weather all winter. For many, the allergy season never stopped. Now that spring is around the corner, some wonder if they have missed the usual winter relief altogether.