As the chorus of sniffles and “achoos” makes its way into the Circle City, the Indianapolis Recorder sat down with doctors and patients to break down seasonal allergies and how to curb them for the summer season.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, about 15%. David Curtis, a southside apartment maintenance worker, is one of them.
“It’s just so hard,” Curtis said. “I will be working, and my nose is running. My face is itchy. It gets really bad when I have to mow the grass or trim the bushes.”
Indiana is affected by a variety of allergens. In the summer, Bermuda grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy grass and ryegrass are the main culprits. Weeds and tree pollen also play a significant role in pollen production in the spring and fall. Pollen levels range from low to very high and vary day-to-day, but Indiana’s pollen count is highest in the spring and summer.
Curtis works in the elements every day, something that can lead to aggravated symptoms of seasonal allergies, according to Dr. Varon Cantrell, HealthNet’s chief medical officer.
Common seasonal allergy symptoms can be any of the following:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Watery and itchy eyes
- Ear congestion
- Nasal dripping
- Itchy sinuses or throat
“Seasonal allergies” is the commonplace term for hay fever, which is an allergy to pollen, dust mites or pet hair. The Mayo Clinic explains that when someone has hay fever, their immune system identifies pollen or other harmless airborne particles as harmful and tries to fight them.
“I have tried everything,” Curtis said. “They gave me medicine, didn’t work. They gave me creams,they didn’t help. I feel like I’m just going to have to keep living with it. (Allergies) are just part of my life.”
Like many others, Curtis feels hopeless when it comes to seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, science has not advanced enough to provide a one-and-done cure for his troubles.
A variety of treatments exist for hay fever. Allergy shots and prescription antihistamines are a few of the treatments recommended by Cantrell, but there are some solutions that may help at home.
“The first thing someone can do is take a log of when you’re having the symptoms,” Cantrell said.
By recording when the symptoms are taking place, your primary care physician can better understand how to treat them. Rogers recommends that patients try basic medications first, then seek out medical help if the symptoms do not improve.
“I advise someone to see a doctor if the allergies are interfering with the quality of your life,” Rogers said. “Poor sleep, constant headaches, sinus infections, chronic coughing or nasal congestion.”
If allergies are left untreated, they can begin to affect a person’s sleep. Getting less sleep leads to a weakened immune system and more severe symptoms. To prevent the cycle from continuing, Cantrell advises patients to visit their primary care physician to target the source of the allergies.
“If you are having significant shortness of breath, it may be time to see your primary care physician and an allergist,” Cantrell said.
Monitoring pollen levels is also an important tool for allergy management at home. Overall, however, Rogers and Cantrell both agree that consulting with your primary care physician is the best way to curb allergy symptoms.
“Right now is the worst time (for allergies),” Cantrell said. “Late spring into the summer it is so challenging for the patients and for the doctors.”
5 things you should know about spring allergies and asthma – Indianapolis Recorder
Pollen levels can be checked through the National Weather Service’s website or on the weather app. For more information about seasonal allergies, visit kidshealth.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
