2008 Woodie Awards
Allergic reaction
Nuvia Espana and Denisha Randle/ Special to the Star
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: News
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"Miserable - you can't breathe, your throat is burning," said Robert Anderson of Studio City, whose stuffed-up nose, itchy eyes and irritated throat led him to join a crush of patients at the Northridge Allergy and Asthma Center in Granada Hills.
Every year, 36 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies caused by pollen and outdoor mold, generating 6.7 million doctor's office visits, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. More than 20 percent of Americans suffer from allergy symptoms, spending $6 billion on medications and costing employers $250 million in lost work.
"The most common symptoms are sniffling, sneezing, wheezing and itchy, red eyes," said Renee Randle, a nurse at Kaiser West L.A. Hospital. "But if the symptoms are severe, they can be life-threatening for asthma sufferers."
In Southern California, the allergy season generally runs from March through November, according to allergists. In late winter and early spring, winds blow pollen around from walnut, ash, sycamore and oak trees, among others. But the onslaught of pollinating grasses and weeds each summer is already starting now, as are the outdoor and indoor molds that often follow rains.
"The last incidence like this was seven or eight years ago, when El Niño caused heavy, extended rainfall and, as a result, a significant increase in allergy symptoms," said Dr. Zab Mosenifar, director of pulmonary and critical care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where the patient load has spiked.
"I don't normally have flare-ups like this, but this season has been very hard on my sinuses ... and it will take two weeks before I can see my doctor because she's booked up for the rest of the month," said Alisha Powell of Van Nuys.
Mold grows indoors during the winter season and outdoors in warmer weather. Since molds feed on almost anything, the best way to control them is to control humidity. They thrive in dark, damp, warm environments and can grow on a variety of surfaces including attic walls, garbage pails and even house plants.
Experts warn that anyone suffering from severe allergies or asthma symptoms should seek professional help as well as taking precautions (see box). To find an allergist/immunologist in your area or to learn more about allergies and asthma, call the AAAAI Physician Referral and Information line at (800) 822-2762 or visit their website at www.aaaai.org.
