MAYWOOD, IL –Ragweed levels are beginning to rise, says Rachna Shah, MD, an allergist who oversees the Loyola Medicine Daily Allergy Count. And as some allergy symptoms mirror those of COVID-19, seasonal allergy sufferers should be especially vigilant when adhering to treatment plans and precautions.
“A rise in ragweed tends to mark the informal start of the fall allergy season, which typically begins in mid-August,” says Dr. Shah. The symptoms of seasonal allergies include itchy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, headaches, ear itching or popping, post-nasal drip and throat irritation. In addition to ragweed, fall allergens include pollen, mold and grass.
“With COVID-19 in the mix and some of the symptoms overlapping (including congestion, runny nose, headaches and throat irritation), it’s especially important this year to have your preventive allergy treatment plan in place,” says Dr. Shah, who explains the differences between allergy and COVID-19 symptoms in a recent Loyola Medicine video.
“Often, when people are feeling well, they will become more lax about following their treatment plans,” says Dr. Shah. For chronic allergy suffers, seasonal treatment protocols—prescriptions, over-the-counter allergy medications and/or steroid nasal sprays—should begin as soon as possible, “as they may take a week or more to kick in.”
In addition, “as allergy symptoms can worsen asthma, causing breathing difficulties, it’s important that you have all of your asthma tools,” says Dr. Shah. “Make sure that your inhaler is up-to-date, not expired, that you have additional inhalers and refills on hand, and that you are taking preventive measures.”
Preventative measures can include modifying activities on days when allergen levels are particularly high.
“Pollen counts are highest in the beginning of the day – from dawn until 10 am,” said Dr. Shah. “Shifting activities to later in the day can help a lot.”
In addition, keeping widows closed on high allergy days, and/or rinsing off or changing clothes after being outside, can help.
To stay on top of what allergens are highest each day, visit the Loyola Medicine Daily Allergy Count web page (loyolamedicine.org/allergy-count), and/or follow the Loyola Daily Allergy Count Twitter page (twitter.com/LoyolaAllergy).
“Patients who are still suffering from allergy symptoms after adhering to their treatment protocols, taking preventive measures and/or modifying daily activities, should be evaluated by a physician,” says Dr. Shah.
To schedule an appointment with a Loyola Medicine allergist, visit loyolamedicine.org or call 888-584-7888.
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About Loyola Medicine Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago’s western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from more than 1,800 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Loyola is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. & Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois’s largest burn center, a certified comprehensive stroke center and a children’s hospital. Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Gottlieb is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park with the newly renovated Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, an adult day care program, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research facility at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center. MacNeal is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced medical, surgical and psychiatric services, acute rehabilitation, an inpatient skilled nursing facility and a 68-bed behavioral health program and community clinics. Loyola Medical Group, a team of primary and specialty care physicians, offers care at over 15 Chicago-area locations. For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org.
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, serving diverse communities that include more than 30 million people across 22 states. Trinity Health includes 92 hospitals, as well as 106 continuing care locations that include PACE programs, senior living facilities and home care and hospice services. Its continuing care programs provide nearly 2.5 million visits annually. Based in Livonia, Michigan, and with annual operating revenues of $19.3 billion and assets of $27 billion, the organization returns $1.2 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. Trinity Health employs about 125,000 colleagues, including about 7,500 employed physicians and clinicians. For more information, visit www.trinity-health.org.
