It's Hay Fever Season Again

May 12, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

Pollen Counts Climbing

(KCPW News) A stuffy nose may not be life threatening, but seasonal allergies can be dangerous for people with asthma. Intermountain Asthma and Allergy Clinic physician Dr. Greg Wickern says an alarming number of people don't know how to manage their asthma.

"The vast majority of people have relatively little knowledge to reduce or mitigate their exposure-rate that induces problems with their asthma or their hay fever," Wickern says. "Because I think a lot of physicians don't talk about these things with their patients."

Pollen counts start to climb in the spring, triggering sneezing, sniffling, coughing and wheezing for more than 35 million people across the United States. Allergies can trigger asthma attacks. Dr. Wickern says each day in this country 11 people die from asthma complications. In Utah, the hay fever season can run from March through October. This year's relatively cool, wet spring could be good news for allergy and asthma sufferers. Pollen counts tend to be lower on rainy, cloudy and windless days. However, Utah Department of Health Asthma Program Specialist Jenny Johnson says the wet weather could also mean more pollen later on in the season. To avoid allergy symptoms and asthma attacks, Johnson recommends keeping the windows closed at home and in the car; staying inside on windy days; having someone else mow the lawn; and drying sheets and clothing in the dryer, not on the clothesline.

"It's nice to get out in the springtime when the weather finally gets nice. It's hard to stay indoors to keep your windows closed at night, when it's nice and cool," Johnson says. "So these are just good reminders for people about simple things they can do to prevent allergies and asthma."

For those wondering if they have asthma or are curious about how to manage their symptoms, there's a free asthma screening Saturday from 10 to 2 p.m. at the Fashion Place Mall in Murray. More information about seasonal allergies and asthma is available here.

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