RICHMOND — About one in four adults and one in five children suffer from seasonal allergies in Virginia, and experts have tips on how to treat them. You may know the feeling — the runny nose, sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes that come with spring allergies. Allergic reactions happen when you come into contact with an allergen that prompts the body to produce chemicals called histamines, creating the uncomfortable symptoms.
Dr. Gregory Carnevale, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare, says when you’re allergic, your body acts a lot like it’s being attacked.
“It’s when your body’s immune system responds in a way that it really shouldn’t. It’s a response that’s potentially harmful to the body, but it’s to an exposure that’s really unharmful to that one individual,” he said.
UnitedHealthcare has a fact sheet on fighting seasonal allergies. It says you can run the air conditioners in your home or car, shower before bed, and use air purifiers to reduce pollen levels.
Richmond and Virginia Beach are among the top 20 “allergy capitals” in the U.S., according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The rankings take into account pollen scores for a variety of plants, over-the-counter medication use and number of allergy specialists in the area.
Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, assistant professor and allergist, University of Virginia School of Medicine, says over-the-counter antihistamines are one of the most effective ways to treat seasonal allergies. He adds that taking them a little ahead of when seasonal allergies occur could provide even a little more relief.
“And to some extent, they can work well if you know that you’re in the thick of the season, if you start taking them a little bit ahead of time. They’re probably even going to give you more benefit than if you use them retroactively,” he explained.
Trees — like oak, maple and elm — grasses and weeds, such as ragweed and sagebrush, are the most common contributors to seasonal allergies.
