Nurse's Note - Ragweed Allergies
Fall is a wonderful time of year in Ohio. We recognize it by the crisp autumn air, the earthy fresh smell of fallen leaves and brightly colored foliage on the trees. However, Fall is a peak time to stir up environmental allergies. Allergies are immune responses to things in the environment such as pollen and animal dander.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, ragweed pollen is one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies in Ohio, with three-fourths of all allergy sufferers allergic to it. In Ohio, Ragweed allergy season appears in early August and goes into late October, peaking in September. Ragweed is worse when the nights are cool, and the days are warm and dry.
The pollen from the ragweed causes allergy symptoms in many people. If you have ragweed allergies, your immune system recognizes the pollen as a foreign invader. This causes your body to produce chemicals to fight off the allergen. A chain reaction occurs, and you start to experience a variety of irritating symptoms.
The most common ragweed allergy symptoms are itchy, watery eyes. Some other symptoms may include scratchy throat, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, or wheezing, sinus pressure, puffy eyes, decreased sense of smell or taste or skin reactions such as dermatitis.
To help prevent or reduce ragweed allergies you can try the following tips:
1. Keep windows closed when driving and at home
2. Track pollen counts on the web
3. Avoid peak ragweed hours (between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm)
4. Change your clothes and wash your hands after you’ve been outside
5. Don’t dry your laundry outside
6. Bathe your pets frequently
7. Wash bedding once a week to keep pollen off sheets
It is also important to make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may offer things such as medications, allergy shots and recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to help alleviate your ragweed allergies.
Even if you suffer from ragweed allergies you can still enjoy all the beauty fall in Ohio has to offer. By taking a fall foliage drive through a park or perhaps exploring the Cuyahoga Valley on the Fall Flyer historic train. Either way, you can discover one of the most beautiful times of the year in Ohio……just keep those windows up!
-Nurse Jen
https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/allergen.htm
Links for park systems and train ride:
https://www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-park-district/parks-maps
https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
https://www.cvsr.org/fall-flyer/