THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230094
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARIE JOYCE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
You're sneezing. Your nose runs. Your eyes itch. Summer's over, for heaven's sake! So why do your allergies make you feel so rotten?
Well, nature has plenty of autumn allergens in store for sufferers. And this fall seems to be a bit worse than last, according to pollen and mold spore counts kept by the Norfolk Health Department.
Pollen-counting is a fairly inexact science. A coated slide is set outside for 24 hours, then the slide is put under a microscope and someone counts the grains of different types of pollen and mold spores to get a very general idea of the pervasiveness of airborne allergens.
For the past four weeks or so, the slides have been catching quite a bit more ragweed and grass pollen than last year at this time.
Norfolk Health Department officials expected to see an increase this year, because they moved the collection station from downtown to a more representative area near the center of the city. But officials say the move doesn't account for all the extra pollen.
Warm, wet weather probably explains the increase in pollen, say several local doctors who treat allergies.
The grass seems to be hanging on longer than usual and is likely contributing to the store of airborne allergens, said Dr. Robert Radin, a Virginia Beach allergist. Grass pollen season usually peaks in June and July.
Added to that, is a particularly concentrated ragweed season, said Dr. T.V. Pangalos of Norfolk. Ragweed season starts mid- to late-August and hangs on until the first frost.
``People who were allergic to both got a double whammy,'' said Radin.
Dr. Harvey Davis, however, doesn't see much use in comparing this season to last year's. Fall is always a bad time for allergies, he said.
Besides the residual grass and ragweed pollen, mold takes hold in the fall, growing on dying vegetation. Hampton Roads' muggy climate encourages mold year-round, but it really flares in mid-October.
There is some good news in fall. The tree pollen season is essentially over from an allergy standpoint. Soon, people will start to see pine pollen - that fluffy stuff that settles in a yellow dust on your car. But while it may look impressive, it doesn't contribute much to allergies.
And the counts of other types of pollen have been dropping, the past few days at the Norfolk Health Department.
But the counts don't matter that much, said the doctors, if the particular pollen floating around happens to be the one that makes you wheeze and drip.
``Every year is a bad year,'' Radin said. MEMO: Some tips
Keep windows closed and use air conditioning, especially at night.
Consider using over-the-counter antihistamines, but be careful.
DETAILS, A5
ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
POLLEN ALLERGIES
Pollen stimulates mast cells, which become swollen with histamines,
a chemical released during allergic reactions. Histamines permeate
nasal tissues, causing capillaries to swell and ooze. Fluid from
capillaries passes into nasal tissue, resulting in a runny nose.
John Earle/The Virginia-Pilot
SOURCE: World Book Encyclopedia, KRT
by CNB