According to the National Allergy Bureau, an estimated 40 to 50 million people suffer from allergies in the United States. In the Willamette Valley, where much of the world’s grass seed is grown, seasonal allergic rhinitis — or hay fever — is a big problem.
Last week, pollen levels in the Eugene area steadily increased, and Friday the pollen level rose into the very high category with a count of 502 grains per cubic meter, according to National Allergy Bureau figures. The average count for May was approximately 47 grains per cubic meter. Common symptoms of hay fever include sinus congestion, runny and itchy eyes, sneezing and a burning sensation in the palate and throat.
“We’ve been seeing a lot of patients over the past few weeks — people are ready to see the rain again,” said Jean Jensen, a registered nurse with the Allergy and Asthma Research Group.
Much of the high concentration of pollen in Eugene and the Willamette Valley can be attributed to the climate, the “closed air shed” — so called because the area is sandwiched between mountain ranges — and the fact that the area grows about 90 percent of the world’s grass seed, Jensen said.
Intensity differs every year based on the previous year’s weather, current weather and other environmental factors. Most people in the profession who deal with allergies said this year is not any worse than others, but that the onslaught of pollen came quite suddenly.
The Sacred Heart Ask-A-Nurse hotline has seen a significant increase in the number of calls regarding allergies as well. “This is definitely the season,” said one of the hotline nurses, who is required to remain anonymous. “We give people comfort measures they can take to help them feel better until they can take more permanent actions.”
The hotline fields an estimated 75 calls a day regarding allergies, many pertaining to medications that are not working effectively or from callers who have not been officially diagnosed but want to know what measures they can take to feel better.
During May, pollen levels increased from just 2 grains per cubic meter to 356, then peaking June 1 at 502 grains. The Allergy and Asthma Research Group in Eugene takes pollen counts three to five times per week, Jensen said.
Depending on the cause of a person’s allergies, the section of the country and the pollination periods, seasonal allergic rhinitis may occur in the spring, summer or fall and last until the first frost, according to the NAB.
When an allergen, such as pollen, is absorbed into an allergic person’s body, that person’s immune system views the allergen as an invader and a chain reaction starts. White blood cells produce antibodies, which attach themselves to special cells, called mast cells, causing a release of potent chemicals such as histamine, the NAB says in the “frequently asked questions” section of its Web site.
The NAB estimates that there are more than 18 million office visits to primary care physicians resulting in a diagnosis of sinusitis each year. Allergy specialists agree that over-the-counter medications can help sufferers, but they recommend anyone experiencing chronic symptoms see a physician.