The tissue issue: Wind, trees and pollen cause havoc among allergy sufferers

Based on a report from pollen.com, Sweetwater County has been in the red, meaning the pollen count was between 9.7 — 12 on the pollen scale, recently.

Pollen count numbers range from 1 to 12.

• 0 to 4.9 — Low
• 5 to 7.4 — Moderate
• 7.5 to 9.9 — High
• 10 to 12 — Very High

Oregon has a medium-high severity of pollen (7.3-9.6) as well as Arizona and parts of New Mexico.

In Sweetwater County, the pollen count was the following before Noon:

• Sunday, April 14: 11.1
• Monday, April 15: 10.2
• Tuesday, April 16: 10.3
• Wednesday, April 17: 8.3
• Thursday, April 18: 10.2
• Friday, April 19: 10.1

In Sweetwater County, the weekend pollen forecast is as follows:

• Saturday, April 20: 10.5
• Sunday, April 21: 11.3

Trees in Sweetwater County are responsible for allergy symptoms:

• Geyer’s Willow
• Narrow-Leaf Willow
• Gray Willow
• Scouler’s Willow

The other top allergens in the area are the following:

• Maple
• Alder
• Elm

Pollen is an airborne allergen that can affect our health. Pollen exposure can trigger various allergic reactions, including:

• Sneezing, runny nose, and congestion
• Red, watery, or itchy eyes
• Asthma or other respiratory illness exacerbation

These symptoms are related to the negative impacts on sleep, daily activities, productivity, concentration, and quality of life. Allergic asthma and seasonal allergies affect approximately 40% of the U.S. population.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, this is how pollen targets us:

• Pollen enters the eyes, nose and lungs, sensitizing the immune system.
• Specified antibodies to the pollen are produced
• Antibodies attach to mast cells found in tissue
• Pollen enters the body again, attaches to the antibodies causing histamine and other chemicals to be released from mast cells
• Allergic reactions are triggered resulting in runny eyes and nose, throat and nose itching, sneezing, nose and sinus congestion and asthma.

Our changing climate has caused shifts in precipitation patterns, more frost-free days, warmer seasonal air temperatures, and more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. These changes may lead to both higher pollen concentrations and earlier and longer pollen seasons.

Several allergy sufferers report how this year has presented more health issues than years past.

Rock Springs resident Jess Freeman said that she’s allergic to grass being cut, new plants growing and dying. She is affected at least twice a year.

“I am also allergic to animals which have no environmental factors,” she mentioned.

Regarding remedies for allergic reactions, she uses Benadryl cream and hydrocortisone.

For a runny nose or dry nose, she will usually use a nasal spray (Flonase) during the day and at times a Benadryl pill at night.

“Sometimes I just power through if I am working and hope for the best,” she said. “Many times, I close the windows when my neighbors mow and hope that will be enough.”

Rock Springs resident Cheryl Gardino reported that she has depended on over-the-counter medications such as Mucinex, Claritin and Vick’s Formula 44 cough syrup, but she still suffers from an infection in her lungs.

“My doctor gave me antibiotics and steroids to finally get me over it,” said Gardino, mentioning that her symptoms get worse with a sore throat and ear infections. “This time, I had such a horrible cough, he even gave me a prescription cough capsule.”

Jean Stachon, Sweetwater County health officer, said that she wouldn’t be surprised if more people are living with severe allergy symptoms because of the wind lately, especially blowing dust.

She suggested that allergy sufferers can turn to over-the-counter medicine such as Zyrtec and Allegra, which used to be available only through a prescription, however, if these drugs don’t help alleviate symptoms, they should seek medical attention.