Ozone Alerts Mean Trouble

Fourth of July weekend kicked off a spell of very hot, humid weather here in the Northeast, prompting air quality alerts in many areas. Poor air quality can be a problem for anyone with asthma.

During the summer months, certain weather conditions can combine with pollution emissions to form high levels of ozone close to the earth’s surface. High temperatures, light wind, no rain and wind direction can combine to cause ozone levels in excess of federal safety standards. Ozone causes constriction of the airways, resulting in increased coughing, sore throat, wheezing and uncomfortable breathing. It can also increase a person’s sensitivity to allergens.

Weather experts forecast air pollution levels each day, reporting the Air Quality Index (AQI) along with the weather. The AQI tells us how clean or polluted the ground level air is and how the levels could affect our health. AQI is divided into six color coded categories, ranging from good to hazardous. In New York, “orange alert” is the first level of poor air quality which can cause increased asthma symptoms. Orange alert is declared when the AQI is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including young children, older adults, and people with asthma.

You can reduce your exposure to ozone and help keep your asthma under control by knowing the weather and air quality forecast each day. If an “alert” day is predicted, plan vigorous activities for the morning or for indoors. Take it easy if you must be outside. If your asthma acts up, slow down and change activities. Have your bronchodilator inhaler handy for quick relief if symptoms occur.

It's Grass Pollen Season

Grass pollen emerged this week, about 2 weeks ahead of schedule for a typical grass season. Combining with tree pollen, especially the recent high levels of oak, the addition of grass pollen will plague seasonal allergy sufferers throughout the Capital Region.

Visit our web site each week day for the current pollen report.

Tree Pollen Continues to Aggrevate

An exceptionally strong tree pollen season continues to aggrevate allergy sufferers in the Capital Region. The last 3 days have seen pollen counts at extremely high levels dominated by oak and mulberry. Recent abnormally warm weather may be the cause. Tree pollen allergy causes "cold like" symptoms including sneezing, runny nose and scratchy throat. Eye symptoms including watering, redness and itching. See our previous blog for allergy avoidance tips.

Tree Pollen Bursts in the Capital Region

Above average temperatures brought a burst of tree pollen to the Capitol Region this past weekend. Maple, elm, poplar and juniper contributed to "High" pollen counts all weekend. When pollen reaches the "High" level, most individuals with any sensitivity will experience symptoms such as sneezing, runny and/or itchy nose, and itchy and/or watery eyes. Asthma patients whose symptoms are triggered by tree pollen allergy may also experience asthma symtpoms.

Here are a few pollen avoidance tips:
Monitor pollen counts on our website; dry windy days will have the highest pollen counts; humid or rainy days the lowest.

Keep windows and doors closed; use an air conditioner

Avoid spending time outdoors when pollen counts are the highest: in the morning after the dew evaporates, and early evening when airborne pollen returns to ground level.

Wear a mask if doing yard work

After doing yard work, shower and change clothes; keep outdoor work clothes out of your bedroom.

After returning indoors, irrigate the nasal passages with saline

Wipe down or bathe your pet after it comes in from being outdoors

Keep car windows closed; use air conditioner

Do not hang clothes outdoors on the line to dry

Tree Pollen Arrives in the Capital Region

Tree pollen has arrived in the area with maple and elm pollen appearing this past weekend at low levels. Some molds have also been detected the past few days. With the forcast for warm weather this week, expect to see tree pollen on a continuing basis. Check our web site Monday through Friday for area pollen activity.

Long Acting Beta Agonist ('LABA") Advisory

On Feb. 17, the FDA issued a statement that asthma medications containing a long acting beta agonist (“LABA”), will have new safety warnings added to their package insert. These medications include Advair, Symbicort, Foradil and Serevent.

The physicians of Certified Allergy & Asthma Consultants are very familiar with the data that the FDA used to require the new safety warning. We will continue to monitor scientific reports about these medications as they are released. It is our opinion at the present time that LABAs are safe and effective if they are used along with an inhaled steroid. Advair and Symbicort contain both the LABA and the inhaled steroid in one device. They are known as combination medications. Serevent and Foradil do not contain an inhaled steroid, so an inhaled steroid must be provided by separate prescription.

We urge patients to continue with their medications as prescribed by their doctor to control their asthma. Before stopping any asthma medication, please talk with your doctor. Discontinuing medications without the advice of a physician can result in increased asthma symptoms and possibly an asthma attack.

Happy Holidays - Respect Food Allergies

Holidays are a challenging time for people with food allergies because of the focus on traditional foods and activities. Just one bite of a tempting food can cause a serious or life threatening reaction. Preventing accidental ingestions is the key to celebrating a safe, joyous holiday season with family and friends.

Most accidental ingestions occur when eating away from home. If you are invited to a holiday party, plan ahead. Let your hosts know about food allergies well in advance. Offer to bring a dish or two that complements the meal being served but is safe for the guest with food allergies. The majority of allergic reactions occur from ingestion of dessert. Bringing a favorite safe dessert is an easy way to help your busy host and still enjoy the best part of the meal.

Eat a snack before you go to parties, so that you are not tempted to try a food out of hunger. Always ask about ingredients in the food being served before you try it, and be careful about homemade foods that may contain “secret ingredients.” The cook may not have thought about food allergies or cross-contamination. If there is a doubt, don’t eat it, even if it might offend the cook. Don’t forget that serving utensils are a common source of cross contamination. Traces of allergens on serving utensils have caused severe, even fatal reactions. If you have a food allergy, serve yourself first if possible. If there is a doubt, ask for a clean serving utensil.

Parents often express concern about protecting very young children from accidental ingestions at busy holiday parties. Allergy alert clothing or clip-on tags stating the child’s food allergy discourage feeding the child without permission from the parents. These provide an immediate visual cue that the child is food allergic and are very effective in deterring well meaning friends and family members from unknowingly exposing the child to unsafe foods.

Holiday crafts and activities can also expose children with food allergies to unsafe foods. Cookie decorating, making bread dough ornaments, making peanut butter and seed pinecones for the birds, and even the treats earned from caroling can pose a hidden threat to young children with food allergies. Remind your child’s teacher about foods to avoid during holiday projects at school; consider volunteering during holiday parties. Children just want to fit in and be part of the fun; it’s important to keep their activities safe.

Always carry your EpiPen or Twinject epinephrine injector and make sure you know how to use it. If an accidental ingestion occurs, don’t try to tough it out. Epinephrine is the only lifesaving medicine used to treat allergic reactions to food. If you use your epinephrine injector, go to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

Food allergies should not stop anyone from having a safe and happy holiday season. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network now offers The Food Allergy News Holiday Cookbook, available at http://www.foodallergy.org/. This book contains 150 allergy free recipes, as well as tips for hosts and guests with food allergies. FAAN can also be reached at 800-929-4040.
For lots of great allergy free holiday craft ideas, log on to kidswithfoodallergies.org