With warm temperatures on the rise, Patch asked Marina Boruk, MD of Downstate Long Island College Hospital for her advice on how to combat allergies.This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 will appear tomorrow.
The familiar sniffles have already begun for the seasonal allergy sufferers of Brooklyn. Seasonal allergies may cause a variety of miseries that prevent outdoor and gardening activities. Whether you tend to a few plants on a balcony or a garden in one of the beautiful yards so common in Carroll Gardens, don't let seasonal allergies stop you from enjoying the spring.
The first thing to do is reduce outdoor seasonal “triggers ” by identifying the plants and flowers that cause discomfort. Go to an allergist for an evaluation, which can include diagnostic skin tests. Once you know what to avoid, you’ll know which plants, shrubs and flowers will look beautiful – but won’t cause allergy flare-ups.
Here are some of the more common questions I’m asked:
Are allergies always worse in the morning?
Not necessarily. Some people do experience typical symptoms such as sneezing, or itchiness of the eyes, nose and throat in the morning, but others may suffer more in the afternoon and evening.
What type of day is better for allergy sufferers to go outside and garden?
Wet, cloudy and windless days when pollen levels are lower. Windy, dry, sunny and clear days may be associated with greater airborne pollens. To help you pick a day with lower pollen counts you can subscribe to email alerts available from the National Allergy BureauTM (NAB).
Plants with large, fragrant flowers cause many allergies. True or false?
False. These are often not the culprits. Plants which often cause allergies are those whose pollen is windborne and they tend to have nondescript looking flowers. Brightly colored, fragrant flowers usually have “heavy” pollen that need insects for transfer from plant to plant.
Does it matter if a plant is male or female?
Yes. Our modern landscapes have been planted with predominantly male-only trees and shrubs, favored because they cause less mess. However, male plants produce the pollen which cause seasonal sniffling and itchiness, not female plants. Planting female trees will attract and then trap incoming airborne pollen from male plants.
Marina Boruk, MD, is a Fellowship-trained rhinologist at Downstate Long Island College Hospital. Her clinical practice focuses on sinus disease and allergy assessment and management. For a referral to Dr. Boruk or another Downstate LICH physician, please call (888) 270-7869.
