Danbury Hospital Offers Advice For Allergy Sufferers

DANBURY — With pollen counts in this area more than 20 times what is considered normal this time of year, Danbury Hospital recommends that allergy and asthma sufferers try to avoid known allergens and use medications wisely.

Allergist Richard Lee, MD, and Arthur Kotch, MD, a pulmonologist with Danbury Hospital, recently gave tips to an audience of allergy sufferers at a recent hospital-sponsored Medical Town Meeting. Both suggested that people try to avoid being outdoors when pollen is excessively high, and manage symptoms through prevention and use of safe and effective medications.

“Tree pollen has been over 6,000,” said Dr Lee. “That’s a lot when 300 is considered high.” Tree pollen is measured in grains of pollen per cubic meter. This year’s mild winter, and recent record-high temperatures, are making for a prolific pollen season.

Sufferers should stay indoors from about 5 to 9:30 am, when trees and green plants are releasing pollen.

“The No. 1 treatment is avoidance of things that bother you,” he said. The tree season should last until the end of June, according to Dr Lee, and the grass season will continue through July 4. Ragweed sufferers begin reacting after August 15 through the first frost.

Allergy season also can bother some asthma patients, according to Dr Kotch. But new medications, including leukotriene modifiers, are helping patients more easily manage this chronic disease.

While there’s no getting around this year’s excessive pollen counts, the doctors recommend taking the following steps:

l Avoid having pets if possible, or keep them out of the bedroom. If you do have pets, bathing them frequently will help. Most people are allergic to animal dander, not fur, as many think. Cats produce a special protein in their urine and saliva that causes responses in the allergic.

l Avoid certain foods that are known allergens, like peanuts or shellfish. Get tested by your doctor so you’ll know exactly what bothers you.

l Use preventative therapy, such as prescription nasal sprays that contain cortisone. These medications are good because they can help prevent an attack, but must be used several weeks in advance.

l Rely on prescription antihistamines to help “rescue” you from an attack when needed.

l Use over-the-counter antihistamines cautiously. Many cause drowsiness and may put you at risk when driving a car or working with machinery.

l Consider immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which help you build up an immunity to what you’re allergic to.

l Encase your mattress and pillow in plastic to create a barrier between you and dust mites. These products are found at many department or household stores.

l Use HEPA air purifiers in your home, and sleep with the air conditioner on. Air conditioners lower the moisture in a room and inhibit growth of dust mites.

l If you take asthma medications, be sure to use them property. Many patients don’t get the full benefit from inhalers because of improper use.

If you’re suffering particularly badly this year, see your doctor. There are many new prescription allergy medications that can help.