SAN DIEGO — Spring has sprung, and with it, the familiar chorus of sneezes, sniffles, and itchy eyes.
This year’s allergy season is not only in full swing, it’s setting records. Here are some of the surprising allergy aggravators that might be making allergies worse without you even realizing it.
According to the USA National Phenology Network, spring pollen season is getting longer and more intense, and with that, more allergies.
“Itchy eyes, itchy nose, scratchy throat, cough, sometimes trouble breathing,” said Joshua Sugay, physician assistant at American Family Care (AFC) in Point Loma. “Sometimes when people come in, they don’t know if it’s allergies or if they’re getting a cold.”
Sugay told CBS 8 that at their six locations around San Diego County, they’re seeing an influx of patients seeking relief from their allergy symptoms.
“What I usually prescribe them is nasal sprays or antihistamines during this season just to kind of help with their symptoms,” said Sugay.
Unexpected allergy culprits
As far as aggravating your allergies, there are a few unexpected culprits that can make them worse, like wearing contact lenses.
“Sometimes the pollen can get in between the contact lens and your eye, so it can definitely cause some irritation,” said Sugay. “So definitely during allergy season, we recommend just wearing your glasses.”
For some people, alcohol can amplify your allergy symptoms.
“People who have a history of hay fever or allergic rhinitis, sometimes their allergies get worse if they drink alcohol,” said Sugay.
Sap allergens diffusing into the air from some common houseplants can trigger symptoms, with ficus, yucca, ivy, palm, orchid, and fern varieties being the main offenders.
And who’d have thought? Indoor swimming can aggravate allergies as well.
“If you’re swimming in chlorine, it can definitely trigger some allergic responses or irritation in the airway, especially if it’s poor ventilation,” said Sugay. “So try swimming outside or in saltwater.”
Fragrance foes like scented candles, aerosols, and potpourri might smell nice but they can unleash volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s, into the air.
Avoiding these things can significantly reduce allergy symptoms, and Sugay says testing is available to find out exactly what you’re allergic to.
“There’s blood tests, there’s skin tests that you can do,” said Sugay. “So you would see an allergist, and they can tailor a treatment plan for you.”
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