Fall Allergies

And it’s that time of year again, when some people suffer from puffy eyes, runny noses and sneezing all due to fall allergies. Kathy Tan, Allergy Sufferer said, "Allergy season is a problem for me. Always has been. No matter where I live in the country, I’m from out west and it was just as bad there, so I kind of dread it each year." Representatives with the Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau say we have been seeing high levels of ragweed and grass pollen all month long. Amber Boles, Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau said, "We tend to have a lot of rural areas around here, and so that may be why some of the ragweed and grass pollens are higher at this time of year."

Dr. Susan Raschal with Covenant Allergy and Asthma Care has noticed one interesting detail during this allergy season. Dr. Susan Raschal, Covenant Allergy and Asthma Care said, "What is interesting over the last three years, we have been detecting grasses. So grasses which usually you don’t see in the summer time. So people, allergy sufferers, get a little bit of a reprieve, but not for the last three years." Dr. Raschal recommends a natural way to treat her patients symptoms using allergy shots. Dr. Raschal said, "Allergy shots have been shown to do a number of things. First it is the closest thing we have to a cure, and when you get an allergy shot you are getting the very thing you are allergic too. So that’s why its natural because you are getting the very thing you are allergic too."

Representatives with the Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau say we will see pollen in the air until the first frost.    

Dr. Susan Raschal went on to say, "In early April 2014, three immunomodulating medications were released for the management of allergic rhinitis to grasses and Ragweed:

RAGWITEK is a prescription medicine used for sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy to treat ragweed pollen allergies that can cause sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy and watery eyes. RAGWITEK may be prescribed for persons 18 through 65 years of age who are allergic to ragweed pollen.  RAGWITEK is taken for about 12 weeks before ragweed pollen season and throughout ragweed pollen season.  RAGWITEK is not a medication that gives immediate relief for symptoms of ragweed allergy.

GRASTEK is a prescription medicine used for sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy to treat Timothy and related grass pollen allergies that can cause sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy and watery eyes. GRASTEK may be prescribed for persons 5 through 65 years of age who are allergic to grass pollen.  GRASTEK is taken for about 12 weeks before grass pollen season and throughout grass pollen season. GRASTEK may also be taken daily for 3 years to provide a sustained effect for a fourth year in which you do not have to take GRASTEK. GRASTEK is not a medication that gives immediate relief for symptoms of grass allergy. ORALAIR® (Sweet Vernal, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Timothy, and Kentucky Blue Grass Mixed Pollens Allergen Extract) is a prescription medicine used for sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy prescribed to treat sneezing, runny or itchy nose, nasal congestion or itchy and watery eyes due to allergy to these grass pollens.

ORALAIR may be prescribed for people 10 to 65 years old whose doctor has confirmed are allergic to any of these grass pollens. Although another excellent treatment modality for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (allergies) it has its limitations. Grastek and Oralair treat 5 common local grasses, but do not treat Bermuda or Johnson two of the most common grasses in this area.  Ragwitek only treats ragweed and not other weeds. Aside from those limitations, these treatments are more convenient and less painful than allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots)."