It’s the middle of May and spring is in full effect. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping. As wonderful as spring may appear to be, there is one pesky problem that too many of us are facing: allergies.
The arrival of spring in Eugene is accompanied by an onset of seasonal allergens flooding the Willamette Valley. These allergens come primarily from grass pollen, but can also come from a variety of different tree species including alder, birch and oak trees.
Judy Moran, a registered nurse and research coordinator at Oregon Allergy Associates, explained that because Eugene is in a valley, allergens collect here and stay for a long time.
She said allergy season usually refers to May-July, but it varies every year.
“We always tell people that avoidance is number one,” Moran said. “Avoidance doesn’t exactly mean staying inside with the doors locked. It means using some good common sense as far as realizing that your total daily exposure is going to equal your total daily symptoms.”
Moran recommends to keep windows closed and to exercise indoors rather than outside.
Gregg Wendland is a registered pharmacist and is the pharmacy manager for the University of Oregon Health Center. He explained that this time of year the majority of students who come to the pharmacy are looking for allergy medications.
“There are an assortment of over-the-counter medications that can be used to treat allergy symptoms including Claritin and Zyrtec,” Wendland said. “For people wild mild-moderate allergy symptoms, a nasal spray may be the best option.”
According to Wendland, the symptoms for seasonal allergies are often similar to the symptoms for a common cold. Students frequently think that they are sick with a cold when it is really just allergies, or visa versa.
“Students who are not from the Eugene area may not have had seasonal allergies in their home towns, but that doesn’t mean they won’t experience it here,” Wendland said.
Certain times of the day there may be more or less pollen in the air. He suggests checking the pollen count online daily if you are prone to experience seasonal allergies.
UO junior Kali Mungovan explained that she battles seasonal allergies every year.
Mungovan is originally from Redondo Beach, California but lives in Eugene to attend UO. She said she suffers from allergies at home, as well, but it isn’t as bad as it is here.
“I’ve had allergies for as long as I can remember,” Mungovan said. “When the weather changes is when my allergies get the worst.”
She usually turns to over-the-counter allergy medications to treat the symptoms.
Wendland wants students to know that the University Health Center is a great resource for allergy concerns and other medical issues. For more information about allergies, Wendland created a self-care web page.
“We are here to help,” Wendland said.