Whether you’re relocating for a job, college or just because the mood struck, there are more things to consider than rent, classes or new colleagues, especially if you’re moving within the next month. Like y our pesky allergies. Ragweed season can be detected as early as mid to late July in some parts of the country, but most ragweed blooms in mid-August, with a peak around early September.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that some 10 to 20 percent of Americans begin to feel the effects of ragweed allergies — or hay fever — in late summer. Of those who are allergic to pollen-producing plants, 75 percent are allergic to ragweed. The weeds grow throughout the country, but are most commonly found in the eastern states and Midwest. The foundation reports that a single plant produces up to 1 billion pollen grains.
Specifically, ragweed thrives in warm, humid breezes after sunrise. Although it tends to grow in rural areas, ragweed has been measured in the air 400 miles out to sea and two miles into the atmosphere, making this frequent flyer difficult to escape. Enter the dreaded sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat, making daily life challenging to those powerless to the pollen. People with more severe symptoms may experience asthma attacks, headaches, difficulty sleeping and chronic sinus infections — also called chronic sinusitis.
Dr. David Shulan, former vice president of the Certified Allergy and Asthma Consultants in Albany, New York, and a retired allergist-immunologist, says he’s noticed an alarming year-round ragweed effect where he lives in Boynton Beach and surrounding Florida locales.
“[So] the traditional time frames for ragweed for the rest of the country may not necessarily apply here,” he explains. “I’ve sent some pictures and plants to authorities who were surprised this was occurring. Around here, we don’t often get a frost.”
If your move will take you out of state, consider preparing now, he says. The first step is knowing what you’re up against in your new destination, since the culprits may be different from those you face at home. That means identifying what you’re allergic to and your individual sensitivity to certain allergens. Seek a board-certified allergist-immunologist who can help identify and treat symptoms, and create an action plan that may involve immunotherapy — such as allergy shots or under-the-tongue alternatives — and daily or seasonal medication. Sometimes, it can take a couple of years before the indoor and outdoor triggers even develop, Shulan says.
“Years ago, when I was doing a fellowship at the University of Iowa, we had a graduate student from Hong Kong who had horrible ragweed allergy,” Shulan says. “It took her three years to develop a sensitivity, and she wound up on a ventilator and nearly died from her asthma.”
There’s also research showing that people who work in research labs with animals have a higher rate of developing sensitivities to dust mite, pollen and mold allergies, compared with others. “I experienced that personally,” Shulan adds.
Whether you’ve just found out what you’re allergic to or you’ve been seeing an allergist-immunologist for years, the next step is prepping for the move itself. Packing, unpacking and cleaning can stir up dust. That kind of exposure isn’t good for someone with allergies, says Dr. Neil Kao, an allergist-immunologist practicing at the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in both the Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, locations.
“Be prepared by using an N-95 mask. They’re very inexpensive, and you can get them at any hardware store,” Kao says.
In addition to wearing an allergen-blocking mask to shield your face from the dust that can enter the airways, consider using salt water sinus rinses to keep the nose hydrated, he says. Not only do sinus rinses remove or lessen excessive amounts of mucus, they can also remove allergens like pollen from the nostrils and sinuses during peak allergy seasons.
“You may already have some allergy medications that help; now would be a good time to start taking them,” Kao explains. To play it safe, consider taking these medications days before you begin packing.
Your current medications or immunotherapy schedule might need to be adjusted depending on what you’re allergic to and where you’re relocating, Shulan says.
“Trying to tough it out is not a good idea,” he warns.
Sometimes immunotherapy can be transferred and continued from one place to another, but because of different preferences among different physicians, you may need to have a new allergy test to identify what triggers your symptoms and if your dose needs to be bumped up or lowered. This is especially true if you move to an area where pollens, grasses or trees are different from your hometown.
“If I have a patient who is going to be leaving within the next year, I would tell them to go see the new allergist where they’re going. It’s probably not good to start them on immunotherapy right before a move,” Shulan explains.
Shulan recommends talking to your current allergist about sending records to the new office. With a continuation-of-care plan in place, the new doctor will be ready to help you manage your medications, including making any necessary changes.
If you carry an epinephrine auto-injector, make sure to have at least two on hand before the move. It’s also important to consider refilling any current medications before current medical insurance is dropped, Kao says. It will save money, and it could also prevent a trip to the emergency room.
“Make sure as best you can that before you leave home, both your allergies and asthma are optimally controlled so when you’re in a situation over which you may not have control, things don’t head south,” says Dr. Andy Nish, chief of the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Allergy and Asthma in Gainesville, Georgia.
Nish suggests speaking to prospective landlords or real estate agents about previous tenants or homeowners before signing on the dotted line. If they had cats or other animals you’re allergic to, it could prove problematic. Nish says it can take up to six months for pet dander to filter out of carpet, no matter how much you clean your new place.
For those with combined asthma and allergies, asthma can actually be life-threatening. Work with your doctor to keep your allergies from triggering an asthma reaction, Nish says.
“We have good treatments for allergies and asthma. There’s no need to suffer,” he says.
For a listing of board-certified allergist-immunologists, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunologists. You can track the worst cities for pollen by visiting the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
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Are Your Allergies Ready for a Relocation? originally appeared on usnews.com
