Golden Opportunities

Are you curious to learn the reason why your allergies are acting up in January? Well, we decided to be “nosey”, so we’ve invited Dr. Bela Faltay, an allergist from Akron General Medical Center, to explain why, and to give us tips on how to stop sneezing and start enjoying the season. Welcome, Dr. Faltay.

Question: So we don't even escape allergies in the winter, do we? What are some common winter allergies?

Answer: During a typical winter, dust mites, cat and dog dander and indoor molds are major causes of allergies.
Another very common winter allergy, depending on how close you live to a major city, is an allergy to cockroaches. In cities like New York, this is often the major allergy.
During the holiday time, people may have brought in trees that could affect their allergies in some way. Scents, such as indoor deodorizers, can also be irritants.

Question:This winter has been so mild. Has that caused additional allergy problems?

Answer: Pollen is usually gone by the end of October regardless of the weather. However, outdoor mold can persist if the weather is warmer and wet. We are seeing that really happen this year.

Question:What treatment is available for allergy sufferers?

Answer: There is quite a bit of prevention available to those who suffer from indoor allergies.

• For example, having a hepa-filter on your heater's intake (which is often in the damp and dusty basement) can really help.
• If you are allergic to dust mites, using enclosures on your pillows and washing your sheets in hot water/drying in high heat should be beneficial.
• Prevention for cockroach/animal dander is really to limit the exposure and to clean well.
• If prevention is not helping, allergy shots are an option. Beginning once a week and tapering down to once per month, these shots can last for 3-5 years.

Outdoor allergies that are persisting can be controlled by limiting your exposure to the outdoors. Putting your car heating system on re-circulation can help if you spend a lot of time driving. Medications can also help; however, one should be tested beforehand to make sure that it is indeed allergies and not a non-allergic condition that may be exacerbated by the weather.

Question:What non-allergic conditions can be problematic this time of year? How can they be treated?

Answer: As we age, our nasal passages lose their "tone." (This is especially true among those who have smoked-even if they have quit). Atrophic rhinitis can cause runniness of the nose and perhaps a cough. This can be more prominent in the winter when one moves from the warm indoors into the cold.
Another condition, gustatory rhinitis, causes runniness when one eats a large meal.
Although the conditions can cause some embarrassment, they can be treated similarly to allergies. A nasal spray can be used, and it starts to work in about 40 minutes. It's non-dependence forming as well.

To learn more about those winter sniffles, put down that box of tissues and call Akron General at the number that's next. My thanks to Dr. Faltay.