No sneezing at sick days

'Tis the season to be sneezin.'

We've hit the height of allergy season, leaving many hay fever sufferers rubbing their eyes and never too far from a tissue box.

Symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses, swollen and itchy, watery eyes can be so severe that they disrupt the ability to function normally at work or school, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Ragweed season, which lasts from about mid-August to October when the first major frost touches, can bring misery to about 36 million American with hay fever, or allergic rhinitis.

The academy reports that almost 80 percent of people with seasonal allergies suffer sleep problems, resulting in daytime fatigue and poor concentration. Each year, ragweed-related allergies cause more than 3.8 million lost days of work and school.

"It's common for people to miss work," said Dr. Noga Askenazi, an allergist with offices in Elgin. She added that severe congestion can result in sinus infections and other ailments.

People with seasonal allergies complain of feeling worn out and drained. "It's the fatigue and exhaustion. It feels like someone rolled over them with a steamroller," said Dr. Suellyn S. Rossman, an allergist in Des Plaines. "It wastes you."

Plants such as ragweed, cattail and maple tree release pollen to initiate their reproductive processes with nearby plants of their species. Pollens are carried by the wind, so not all of them reach their targets, and instead they land on people. For that reason, pollen is frequently present in the air we breathe.

In addition to the ragweed and pollens, Rossman is seeing many patients reacting to high mold counts. Large amounts of rain doesn't help the situation.

"There's a lot of mold spores in the air right now," she said.

Many sufferers say this season is a nasty one.

"This weather has been driving me crazy. This has got to be one of the worst couple weeks ever," said Bob Ibach, a longtime allergy sufferer from Arlington Heights.

Kathy Veenendall, a certified family nurse practitioner, said the number of patients she has seen suffering with seasonal allergies has spiked over the past two weeks. "They're saying their allergy symptoms are worse than in previous years," said Veenendall, who works at the Take Care Health Clinic at Walgreens in Arlington Heights.

As a result, over the counter allergy medications are flying off the shelves. Prescription medications are the other alternative.

Some who come to see her aren't sure if they have a cold or allergies as some symptoms are the same. She said people with allergies don't come down with fevers or the aches and pains related to colds.

The degrees to which people suffer with allergies differs. Laura Mueller of Wauconda has a mild case of hay fever, primarily affected by ragweed. Her 7-year-old son, Remi, has more severe symptoms and is bothered by a variety of grasses, trees and pollens.

"When the pollen counts are high, I can see a difference in his personality," Laura said. "It really does a number on you."

Nothing to sneeze about

Facts and figures

• People with hay fever miss 3.8 million days of work and school each year.

• More than one-third of allergy sufferers said hay fever decreases their work effectiveness.

• 80 percent of patients with seasonal allergies experience sleep problems.

• More than 16.7 million visits to office-based physicians each year are attributed to hay fever.

• Lost work and school days, medications and physician office visits related to seasonal allergies total cost more than $3 billion annually in the United States.

Tips on how to reduce exposure to ragweed

• Keep windows closed to prevent pollen from drifting into your home.

• Minimize outdoor activity when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen times are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Keep car windows closed when traveling.

• Take a shower after spending time outside. Pollen can collect on your hair and skin.

• Don't hang sheets or clothes outside to dry.

• Get up-to-date pollen counts for your area at www.aaaai.org/nab or www.pollen.com.

Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology