Monthly Archives: November 2019
Most Common Allergies in NYC
It is the time of the year where the New Yorkers, like the rest of the Americans, are under the attack of pollens –a major cause of allergic rhinitis. Being a New Yorker, you must have experienced the discomfort linked with allergic reactions.
According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, 19.9 million Americans are diagnosed with this seasonal fever. Rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is not the only reaction you may be facing in this season.
If you have a hypersensitive immune system, you are at the potential risk of acquiring sinusitis, asthma, and other allergic reactions. Living in a city like New York increases the danger of contracting environmental and dietary reactions too.
How Allergies Happen
Allergies occur when our immune system overreacts to a harmless substance mistaking it as a foreign invasion. It then produces Immunoglobulin E (IgE) bodies against the allergen. These antibodies travel in the cells releasing chemicals like histamine, causing the allergy to happen.
The sensitivity of the reaction varies from person to person. The allergic symptoms may appear within a few minutes or may take time to be visible. The nature of the reaction is dependent upon the type of allergy and a person’s health record.
Is There Any Allergen Distinctive To New York?
Seasonal allergies are common to most of Americans. There is NO such allergen which is exclusive to New York, but we are prone to allergies more than any other American. There are several factors which make this city one of the most difficult ones to live during seasonal change –such as the weather, quality of air in the city, and the congested spaces.
Let us breakdown the common allergies and the factors aggravating them for New Yorkers.
Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
It is rare to be safe from hay fever, especially if you live in this part of the world. Rhinitis affects people of all ages. The common symptoms of hay fever are itching on the nose and mouth, swollen red-itchy eyes and runny nose.
- Air carries pollen –a microscopic grain that plants produce for reproduction. Pollens are the root cause of spreading allergic reactions. A plant may pollinate itself, or the pollens may be transferred to another flower by wind or animals. The pollen count is different throughout the year. The higher the pollen count, the higher the chances of catching allergies.
Simple plants with no showy flowers produce the types of pollen that trigger allergies. These include trees, weeds, and grasses. One ragweed plant can produce as many as million pollen grains per day.
Male trees produce more pollens than their female counterparts. Ailantus (TK) trees, found in abundance in New York, generate relatively heavy pollens. Pollination usually takes place between 6a.m. and 10 a.m. Avoid unnecessary outings during this time. Also, use air conditioners in rooms to filter pollens.
- New York City is home to millions of people from different parts of the world. The apartments are smaller in size, and the space restrictions leave a little room for pets’ dander to hide. It is difficult to avoid contact with indoor pets. However, if you have a mild pet allergy, consider using vacuum cleaners to reduce the pet dander buildup.
Drug Allergies
Our bodies do not always react in conformity to medicines. Instead, the reaction is adverse. It usually happens when our immune system shows an inflammatory reaction to a certain medicine. The most common drug allergens are Pen—lin and sulfur.
Pen—lin comprises of six carbon benzene rings. On the other hand, Sulfur is found in water pills, anti-arthritis drugs & others.
The general symptoms are skin rash, itching, and facial swelling. If exacerbated, drug allergies lead to anaphylaxis – a life-threatening medical condition.
Food Allergies
New York is one of the most thickly populated cities of the world and offers a variety of scrumptious dishes to food lovers around the world. Having a food allergy is the last thing you would want to happen. If you are already allergic to a certain food, it is better to avoid it.
There are certain proteins in food that can trigger allergenic reactions. The reaction can be mild, causing a rash on the skin, tingling in the mouth or sore throat. In rare cases, a small bite of food you are allergic to can cause a drop in blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, and life.
Bottom Line
If you are a resident of New York City, stick to the basics –keep your house clean, avoid going out during pollination, and skip the food causing allergenic reactions.
If the problem persists, contact us to schedule an appointment with the best allergist in NYC Dr. Sneeze.
Boyan Hadjiev, MD
30 East 40th Street
New York, NY 10016
212-319-5282
How Can You Prevent Allergies Living In A Big City?
When spring arrives in the US, and so have the miseries of people affected by allergies. You probably have smelt the fragrance of flowers along with breathing in some pollen. The changing season and presence of high-level of allergens in the air have made breathing difficult.
If you live in a big city like New York, which has male trees in abundance, your sneezing season is here. After all, male trees produce more pollen as compared to female trees.
Some Common Allergies
Pollens are not the only culprit behind allergenic reactions –there are many. The air you are breathing in carries various allergens, including dust mites, mold, animal dander and of course pollens. Besides airborne allergens, you are likely to develop a dietary allergy, environmental, or a drug allergy.
Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
Most common allergy during season change is allergic rhinitis. Pollens most commonly attack your nasal passage. You probably feel itching on the nose, mouth, and eyes. You may become too tired to do anything except for sneezing as a result of hay fever. Teary-red eyes may compel you to wash them several times during a day with high pollen count.
Sinusitis
Asthma patients and children are vulnerable to allergies more than any other group. Having a fever increases your risk of acquiring sinusitis. Sinusitis blocks your nasal passages. It may also cause thick nasal discharge and breathing difficulties. Sinusitis may be acute or chronic, depending on how many days it lasts.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are complexed to diagnose. Most food allergies happen during childhood. When your body reacts to the protein in a food item, it may cause inflammation on the skin. Your tongue, face, and throat may sore because of the allergen.
Drug Allergies
You may suffer an adverse medical reaction as it is common. Sulfur and others are the most common allergen drugs. Certain drugs may cause itching on skin, and rashes may appear. You may wheeze due to chest tightness and experience breathing difficulties.
If your food or drug allergy worsens, it may put your life in danger causing anaphylaxis.
How Can You Prevent Allergies?
Bigger cities have bigger problems. Several factors contribute to aggravate allergies for the residents of big cities. Besides the weather, the air quality of your city, the occupied environment, and congested spaces may also expose you to a higher amount of allergens than natives of small cities.
Do not panic; there are ways to relieve the symptoms.
- Plants mostly pollinate in the morning between 5 am to 10 am. Try to stay at home during this time.
- Your indoor air should also be clean and pollen-free. Keeping the windows close reduces the chances of breathing pollens. Also, filter the air using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
- If you are allergic to an animal, don’t keep a pet in the first place. But if your allergy is mild, use vacuum cleaners to reduce the buildup of animal dander.
- Control your craving and avoid the food that triggers allergenic symptoms. If you have a severe pollen allergy, eating raw and fresh fruits may be troublesome. Avoid them.
- Keep track of food items that cause or worsen your allergic symptoms.
- Never use any medicine unless prescribed by your allergist. It is safe to undergo an allergy test to discover the allergen triggering the reaction.
- Whenever you go out during this season, carry a small allergy-relief kit –including eye drops, nasal sprays, and antihistamine drops.
- Consult an allergist before your allergy becomes a potential threat to your life.
Conclusion
Allergies have hit New Yorkers harder than other US citizens. The weather worsens when there is a high pollen count. Be prepared. Contact us and schedule an appointment with the best Allergist NYC.
Serving all of New York City and the Tri State Area including Zip Codes: Top Allergist NYC Midtown, Chelsea and Clinton: 10001, 10011, 10018, 10019, 10020, 10036 | Gramercy Park and Murray Hill: 10010, 10016, 10017, 10022 | Greenwich Village and Soho: 10012, 10013, 10014 | Lower Manhattan: 10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10038, 10280 | Lower East Side: 10002, 10003, 10009 | Upper East Side: 10021, 10028, 10044, 10128 | Upper West Side: 10023, 10024, 10025
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