By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
If it’s outside, it’s most likely everywhere — on table-tops, chairs, cars. It’s all covered with pollen.
“It doesn’t really matter where you live. If there’s pollen in the air, it’s a problem for you if you have allergies,” said Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Senior Vice President Mike Tringale.
Nationwide more than 50 million Americans suffer from nasal allergies, along with 12 percent of adults and children in New Jersey.
“If you are not taking your medications, if you’re not in control of your allergies, it could be a really bad season for you,” Tringale said.
When asked how he would rank this allergy season on a scale from 1 to 10 allergist Dr. Gross said, “I think this season probably right now is a 9 or 10 because of the intense pollen that’s being produced over the last several weeks.”
Dr. Gross is seeing new patients every day.
“What we’ve been seeing the last couple of weeks is patients coming in complaining of severe eye irritation, redness, swelling, tearing, nasal congestion, coughing and sometimes even wheezing,” he said.
“This year is so much worst than last,” said Dana Henderson.
Five-year-old Owen Henderson’s allergic to tree pollen.
“Within minutes of him stepping outside he’s coughing, sneezing, itching at his eyes, and the effects last through the night,” Dana said.
The foundation says nationwide the number of people with allergies is growing along with pollen concentrations in the atmosphere, which have been increasing every year for the past two decades.
“We found that over the past 20 years the spring season has begun 14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago. Meaning it’s coming sometime in early March. A lot of that is global warming, we find global temperatures increasing overall,” Tringale said.
Seasons are lasting longer, insists the foundation, giving plants a longer season to grow and produce more and more pollen.
If you want to reduce your exposure to pollen, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends avoid going outside in the mornings because that’s when trees, weeds and grasses tend to pollinate. Pollen sticks to clothing and skin so dust off before you go inside and take a shower before you go to bed to wash pollen from your hair.
“If you don’t then you’re laying pollen down in bed and you’re sleeping with the enemy,” Tringale said.
Dr. Gross reminds patients to keep their windows closed and wear a hat and sunglasses outside if possible. There’s also prescription and over-the-counter medications. Owen’s taking both.
“He’s an active guy. Nothing’s slowing him down,” Dana said.
Even with allergies, this 5-year-old is itching to play outside.