Blowing dust? It's bad time of year for allergies

It started with migraines, said Las Crucen Donna Rosati, 62, a former resident of Georgia.

“I would have them several times throughout the month and I started taking Maxalt for those migraines and used to think it was due to barometric (atmospheric) pressure because we lived in Georgia, but then we moved out here and I realized it was allergies,” said Rosati, who moved to Las Cruces nine years ago.

Rosati said her symptoms weren’t as bad when she moved to Las Cruces, but that they would get worse in the spring, when, along with migraines, she would also experience sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing.

She decided to visit the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Southern New Mexico in Las Cruces, where she was tested for several different allergies.

“I found out I was allergic to everything,” she said. “The weakest allergens were dust and animal dander, but the strongest were trees and grasses. The worst was pine trees and that’s what we lived around in Georgia.”

Rosati said she has been getting allergy shots, or immunotherapy, for the past five years to treat her allergies and that since then, her symptoms have significantly improved.

While occasional allergies are normal, they become a problem when symptoms begin to interfere with quality of life.

According to Dr. Osman C. Dokmeci, medical director and assistant professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, allergies can adversely affect more areas of life than previously thought, including sleep, physical functioning, energy, mood, pain and social functioning, as well as the ability to concentrate and make quick decisions.

If left untreated, allergies can also cause asthma and sinus disease, Dokmeci said.

“I would certainly think that if you are concerned about having allergies, there are many reasons to see a board certified allergy and immunology specialist,” Dokmeci said.

Symptoms and causes

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergies can be seasonal, meaning they worsen during certain times of the year, or perennial, occurring year-round.

Allergy symptoms can range from very mild, such as sneezing, watery eyes, a scratchy throat, runny nose and sinus congestion, to more severe symptoms, like hives and skin rashes. In the worst case, allergens can cause a life threatening reaction known anaphylaxis, said Dr. Judi Voelz, medical director at New Mexico State University Campus Health Center.

In Las Cruces, the peak season for allergies is spring, followed by a second peak in the fall, Voelz said.

“I think the most common (allergen) we see are to the mulberry trees — usually in the fall, but some people can have them in the spring,” she said.

The pecan trees in the area can also be a cause of allergies, Voelz said.

In New Mexico, Tumbleweed, Russian Thistle and Ragweed are dominant weed allergens that start pollination in the fall, Dokmeci said.

“Bermuda grass is big in this area as well,” said Dr. Adrian Casillas, medical director at BreatheAmerica of El Paso. “In the spring and into the summer is when it tends to be predominate.”

Casillas said this year, things are starting to pollinate earlier than usual due to the warm weather.

“I think there’s going to be a lot more pollen this year, unless we have a real heavy freeze, but that seems less likely as time goes on,” he said “We can probably expect a more severe allergy season this spring than we traditionally have had.”

Other common allergens which can occur at any time of year include dust mites, animal dander, mold, insect stings and foods, such as eggs, shellfish, nuts and grains, according to the ACAAI.

Cockroaches can also trigger allergies, Casillas said. “Many kids with asthma are sensitized to cockroaches,” he said.

Testing and treatment

If allergies are an issue, one of the best ways to find out the cause of your symptoms is to visit a board-certified allergist and get tested, Casillas said.

There are two types of allergy tests: a skin test or a blood test. During a skin test, a diluted allergen is applied to the skin with a prick on the surface of the skin. Several different allergens can be tested at the same time. If a person is allergic to the allergen, a weal, or raised, red, itchy bump, will usually develop within about 20 minutes. An intradermal skin test is another type of test, in which a diluted allergen is injected just below the skin’s surface via a very thin needle, according to ACAAI.

In certain cases, a doctor may recommend a blood test, which detects and measures allergen-specific antibodies in the blood, according to ACAAI.

“Most people know they have an allergy and try to attribute it to a cause they are familiar with,” Casillas said. “But many people are surprised to learn the extent to which they are allergic to certain things, and that’s why testing is so important and can direct people to the best therapy, whether it’s medication alone or medication with allergy shots.”

Allergy shots are injections a patient receives at regular intervals over a period of about three to five years to stop or reduce allergy attacks, according to Mayo Clinic.

Each allergy shot administers small dose of the substance the patient is allergic to, increasing the dose over time, Casillas said.

“It trains the person’s immune system to become tolerant to the specific thing that he or she is allergic to,” he said.

Allergy shots are recommended for people with allergies to pollen, pets, dust, bees or other stinging insects, as well as asthma, but do not work as well for allergies to food, medicines, feathers, or for hives or eczema, according to ACAAI.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is another form of immunotherapy used to treat allergies without the use of injections. Instead, small doses of an allergen are placed under the tongue to build tolerance to substance and reduce symptoms, according to ACAAI.

Changing your environment

According to Voelz, many people underestimate the importance of removing an allergen from their environment as a form of treating allergies.

“Dust mites are kind of everywhere in our house, so part of therapy is to get a new bed mattress, to do a thorough cleaning, get new curtains and vacuum once a day,” she said.

Casillas also suggests getting special dust mite-barrier covers and encasings, which can be bought at retail stores and online.

Keeping your home clean, fixing the leaks and dealing with dampness can also deter mold and dust mite growth, as well as cockroaches that are attracted to food and water particles, Dokmeci said.

“If you are allergic to your pet, at least not letting it in into your bedroom or areas you take a nap, like your favorite couch, might be reasonable,” Dokmeci said. “If you are coming home after a day at work where you have spent plenty of time outside and get exposed to pollens, having a light shower and not putting your clothes on top of your bed are good ideas.”

Dokmeci also suggests changing your air conditioner filter to a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter and avoiding use of humidifiers, which can increase mold growth if not cleaned properly and can lead to bacterial contamination.

Dokmeci said because allergies and symptoms are different for each person, patients should discuss treatment options with a board certified allergy and immunology specialist.

Allergies in the U.S.

According to ACAAI, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. and more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year.

Additionally, about 1/4th of Americans also have allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and about 9 percent have asthma, according to Dokmeci.

“This is such a common condition and we are not exactly sure what is the mechanism or more correctly, what are the many mechanisms causing allergic sensitizations,” he said.

One theory is that our increased use of antibiotics and cleaner indoor environments may lead to more allergen sensitivity, Casillas said.

People who have first degree relatives with allergies also have a higher chance of developing allergies, Dokmeci said.

“So there are clearly genetic and environmental factors that play a role, but which one is more important in a single person is difficult to assess sometimes,” he said.

Alexia Severson may be reached at 575-541-5462, aseverson@lcsun-news.com or @AlexiaMSeverson on Twitter.