Asthma and Ragweed

If you are suffering with asthma and allergies like millions of people, including myself, you may have seasonal allergies including an allergy to ragweed. Ragweed is a pesky little plant that grows practically anywhere along roadways and fields. It grows from mid August to October, mostly in the Northeast, South and Midwest.

Aside from the fact that allergy and asthma sufferers have to deal with the runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing and wheezing, the ragweed plant has some amazing facts that you and I would never know about. According to the AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology), a single ragweed plant can produce one billion grains in an average season. Also, the grains can travel up to 400 miles because they are so light weight. Finally, allergy sufferers who live/work in urban areas are more likely to feel the "ragweed impact" due to abundant growth in vacant lots.

It is no wonder that people who have "hay fever" or "allergic rhinitis" have many problems with missing work and school due to their symptoms. It affects the ability to function, losing sleep, decreasing performance at work/school and causing a rise in medication and doctor visits, totaling more than three billion each year just in the United States.

There are a few tips that are recommended by the AAAAI to help allergy and asthma sufferers reduce their exposure to ragweed:

1. Keep all windows closed during ragweed season (starting around August 15th) and be sure to use your air conditioning as the air is cleaner and drier.

2. Keep outdoor activities to a minimum when pollen counts are high. Be sure to check your local weather to see what the pollen levels are beforehand. Peak pollen times are normally from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

3. Keep your car windows rolled up when you are traveling.

4. After spending time outside during pollen season, try taking a shower as pollen will collect on hair and skin.

5. If you like to hand out sheets and other clothing outside to dry, avoid doing so as the pollen can collect on them.

6. If you have multiple allergies, try to reduce your exposure to those allergens as they can work together to "spark" a flare up.

7. Go to the National Allergy Bureau to get up to date pollen information at www.aaaai.org/nab.

Hopefully these tips will help us all get through the miserable pollen season to come.