A-16 — HERALD-CITIZEN/REGIONAL BUYERS GUIDE, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Wednesday, January 30, 2013
MEDICAL DIRECTORY
Prepare now for allergy season By AMY DAVIS HERALD-CITIZEN Staff
COOKEVILLE — Allergy sufferers know the symptoms well. Sneezing. Itchy, watery eyes. Runny nose and coughing. Drainage in the throat. And they know the culprits — pollen, pets, mold, dust mites and plenty of other triggers. But what to do? Dr. Erin Rohman of Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center in Cookeville sees it all the time — and she expects to see it even more as the allergy season is soon to set in. “Of course, the tree pollens begin in the spring, and then shortly after that we have grass pollens,” she said. “So, we don’t get much of a break between spring and summer. And once allergies get started, people typically deal with it several months, and it’s usually related to the pollen counts.” Even though some allergy symptoms don’t arrive until spring, Rohman recommends early preparation. “If your doctor has prescribed some maintenance allergy medicines, you should go ahead and get started on those before the spring pollens arrive,” she said. “I typically tell patients that if they have stopped their allergy medicines for the winter, they need to go ahead and restart those on a daily basis about late February.” Rohman pointed out that more than 50 percent of the population suffers from allergy symptoms, which can arise at any time and be caused by a variety of sources. “For people who have flare-ups in the spring, the main problem is pollens,” she said. “But dust mites, cat and dog dander and mold are also big problems for people, although those aren’t necessarily a seasonal problem.”
Dr. Erin Rohman of Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center in Cookeville tests a young patient for allergies. Ty Kernea | HeraldCitizen
But avoidance measures can be taken to avoid the worst — such as washing bedding in hot water every two weeks to rid of dust mites and keeping home and car windows closed during peak pollen seasons. “There are also covers for beddings — encasings for mattresses and pillows that can help people who have problems with dust mites,” Rohman said. Another thing to keep in mind is asthma, a chronic condition that can develop in people of any age. “One of the main triggers for asthma is allergies,” Rohman said. “So, if you suffer from both, chances are that when the allergy season picks up, your asthma picks up as well. Of course, other triggers for asthma include smoke exposure, exercise and upper respiratory viruses like the common cold.” While asthma has no cure, it can be managed. “Controlling asthma so that you can carry on your daily activities and the life you want is what we’re all about,” Rohman said.
“That’s why we promote medications and allergy shots — because we don’t want you to be limited by your asthma.” For those who believe they may have allergies and are looking for some relief, a trip to the doctor’s office may be in order.
“Allergies are best diagnosed when allergy skin testing is performed in the office of a board-certified allergist,” Rohman said. “The skin testing is combined with a patient’s history and physical exam to make a complete diagnosis.” She explained that the initial part of the test consists of pricking a patient’s skin with a small amount of an allergen to see if an allergic response results. Once allergies are diagnosed, a plan for treatment can begin. “The great thing about being an allergist and working in an allergy office is that we can improve patients’ quality of life,” Rohman said. “We can improve their work or school performance and even improve their sleep. There are so many aspects of a patient’s wellbeing that we can improve with very simple measures. “It’s very rewarding to see people who come back and say, ‘Wow, I don’t have to sit out at the soccer game anymore while my friends are playing’ or ‘I haven’t missed a day of work in a year.’ Those are all rewarding aspects for sure.”
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