ALLERGY SEASON BLOWS IN WINDS BRING ADDED MISERY ALONG WITH RISING POLLEN COUNTS.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer They plug up the nose, water the eyes, backfill back·fill n. Material used to refill an excavated area. tr.v. back·filled, back·fill·ing, back·fills To refill (an excavated area) with such material. the sinuses and provoke enough wheezing Wheezing Definition Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound associated with labored breathing. Description Wheezing occurs when a child or adult tries to breathe deeply through air passages that are narrowed or filled with mucus as a , sneezing, itching and head throbbing to make life miserable. They are dust, pollen and mold, which have combined with recent high Santa Ana winds Santa Ana Winds may refer to: 1. Santa Ana wind, a local Southern California reference to Föhn winds, a meteorological phenomenon occurring as a layer of wind is forced over a mountain range -- drying the air -- which then passes over the crest and begins to move downslope -- to plague allergy sufferers across Los Angeles. ``I'm coughing,'' said Fredesbindo Moradiago, 46, of Woodland Hills, who paused from studying a box of eight-hour antihistamines Antihistamines Definition Antihistamines are drugs that block the action of histamine (a compound released in allergic inflammatory reactions) at the H1 at a local drug store to complain of her symptoms. ``Mucho watery eyes . . . no sleep.'' Moradiago isn't alone. Each year, 35 million Americans suffer from allergies caused by pollens and outdoor mold, according to allergy researchers. Collectively, they spend $3.4 million on drugs and doctors and cost employers an estimated $250 million in lost work. And in Los Angeles, arid Santa Ana winds make allergy symptoms even worse. Desert winds hit gusts up to 50 miles per hour in some areas last week but are expected to diminish by today, according to the National Weather Service. ``Any time we have winds, especially during the fall season, we have a tendency to have a concentration of pollens in the air,'' Dr. Jesus Torpoco, an allergist al·ler·gist n. A physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. allergist Immunology A physician, who is often trained in both internal medicine and clinical immunology and who manages Pts with from Reseda, said. ``Within 24 hours, people really start suffering.'' Fungi also poses a problem, he said. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever when associated with pollen and molds, causes sneezing, congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. , itchy runny noses and itchy watery eyes, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also cause headaches and sinus trouble. Hay fever can be especially dangerous for those with asthma. Doctors were busy throughout the Southland as the winds exacerbated allergies. ``Winds will increase work,'' said Dr. Eugene Kenigsberg, an allergist at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center. ``Since we had high winds a week or two ago, business has increased.'' Antihistamines, used to combat allergies, were selling well at the Woodland Hills Rite Aid pharmacy Friday. In addition to over-the-counter medications, which can cause drowsiness, nonsedative prescription antihistamines were also on hand. Nasal inhalers, also available through a doctor, can reduce inflammation. The folks selling relief aren't immune, either. ``I can say my arms are scratching like crazy because of all this dry air,'' said Stan Bernstein, pharmacist for a Rite Aid in Woodland Hills. Unlike colds, which can be accompanied by fever, weakness and fatigue and take days to develop from the cold virus, allergies react immediately from exposure to such allergens as pollen and fungal spores disturbed by wind. In California, residents only have to look to the hills and vacant city lots for a list of culprits: Russian thistle, or tumbleweed; coastal sage; mug woort; lamb's quarters; lenscale; pig weed; western and false ragweed ragweed, any plant of the genus Ambrosia, coarse, weedy herbs belonging to the family Asteraceae (aster family), most of which are native to America. They have inconspicuous greenish flowers and soft subdivided leaves. ; English plantain plantain (plăn`tĭn), any plant of the genus Plantago, chiefly annual or perennial weeds of wide distribution. Many species are lawn pests and the pollen is often a hay fever irritant. P. and redroot redroot see amaranthus, lachnanthes tinctoria. . Measurements of pollen taken late last month by the Allergy Research Foundation in Brentwood found moderate levels of pine, juniper and schinus pollens, and low levels from such weeds as artemisia Artemisia, ruler of Caria Artemisia (är'təmĭ`shēə), fl. 4th cent. B.C., ruler of the ancient region of Caria. She was the sister, wife, and successor of Mausolus and erected the mausoleum at Halicarnassus in his memory. , ragweed and chenopods. ``If they are pollenating, the winds are just going to make it worse,'' said research coordinator Clara Horn, whose Friday samples are expected to show higher pollen counts during a weekend analysis. The pollen and spore counts are measured weekly for the AAAAI's National Allergy Bureau and are available by calling (800) 9-POLLEN, or on the Web at www.aaaai.org nab. Not everyone thinks pollen and mold are the only culprits of discomfort during high winds. Wind, not pollen, is the major issue. ``Santa Ana winds result in a sudden drop in humidity to 10 percent,'' Kenigsberg said. ``The membranes swell, then you get headaches. ``Right now, the pollen season is coming to a close, the worst of the pollen is gone. The major issue is wind and a lack of humidity, it's not blowing pollen from the desert - that's an old wives' tale old wives' tale n. A superstitious belief or story belonging to traditional folklore. old wives' tale Noun .'' Whichever the case, it made no difference to Antoinette Quinn, 27, of Santa Monica. ``When it's windy, whew whew interj. Used to express strong emotion, such as relief or amazement. whew interj an exclamation of relief, surprise, disbelief, or weariness , I can definitely feel my allergies acting up,'' said Quinn, whose nose was plugged and whose sinuses were inflamed Friday. ``Because when the wind blows, the pollen is in the air.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Dr. Eugene Kenigsberg has been busy lately, as the Santa Ana winds exacerbated allergies across the Southland. ``Winds will increase work,'' said Kenigsberg, an allergist at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center. ``Since we had high winds a week or two ago, business has increased.'' (2) Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center allergist Dr. Eugene Kenigsberg examines a vial of the allergen affecting many of his San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. patients. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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