Year after year people suffer from itchy watery eyes, sneezes, runny noses, swelling, nasal congestion and other allergy related symptoms. An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from these allergies and this number has been climbing over the last two decades among all races and ages. It's currently the 5th leading cause of chronic disease in the U.S. for adults and 3rd for children with 10,000 kids missing school due to allergies on any given day for an annual total of 2 million lost school days.

Although the biggest spring allergy trigger is pollen followed by dust and mold, these are harmless substances in our environment. Our immune system sees these substances as foreign invaders and releases antibodies which attack the allergens. This leads to the release of histamines into the blood that triggers the spring allergy symptoms.

So why is it that some people suffer so much with spring allergies when others who breath the same air don't?

While genetic factors can be linked to susceptibility, the increases in allergy diagnosis which are occurring in such a short time span suggest environmental and/or lifestyles to be the culprit.

Scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School found that antibiotics may be responsible for producing changes in microbes in the G.I. Tract which in turn impacts the way the immune system responds to airborne allergens. Although many of us resort to anti-histamines to chase the symptoms away, it doesn't get at the root of the problem.

In 1970, I was in Omaha at a karate tournament staying with friends who's father was a chiropractor. I had severe allergies where my nose would run and not stop. I had been the medical route with anti-histamines, but that didn't help other than make me feel groggy. I received my first chiropractic adjustment the night before I would compete and the next morning I was symptom free. That adjustment changed my life, and that's when I decided to become a chiropractor. Later on in life, I discoved food allergies can also amplify the seasonal allergy symptoms. Eliminating cow's milk helped get rid of the remander 20% of my symptoms.

Some natural solutions to treat spring allergies are to eat right by eliminating dairy. Dairy increases mucous production and is ranked #1 most common food allergy and according to the former director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.  Dr. Frank Oski states "up to half of U.S. children have some allergic reaction to cow's milk". Reducing sugars, ice cream and chocolate will help reduce mucus. Vitamin C and quercetin ( a flavonoid compound) common in grape seed extract and red wines well as many other foods have anti-histamine effects.

Chiropractic and acupuncture has helped many people with allergies by balancing the nervous system and improving immune function.

 Hot spicy foods can clear nasal passages such as cayenne pepper, hot ginger, fenugreek, onion and garlic.

 Neti pots and irrigation units with warm saline solution helps to flush irritants from the sinus.

Try to stay indoors when the pollen count is high ( usually in the mornings).Keep windows closed and use air purifiers. Clean or replace air filters ( hypo-allergenic), vents and book shelves where dust can collect. Vacuum twice a week to pick up pollen, dust and mold trapped in your carpet.

For more information on what our office can do to help with your spring allergies, give us a call 424-6531.

Dr. Rick