| | | If you're having trouble viewing this email, click here | | | | | | | Summer Allergies are Here! | Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, summer is just around the corner. Summer is a time for being outdoors with friends and family. Many people go camping, picnic at the beach, or barbeque in the backyard. But along with these outdoor activities comes the possibility of outdoor allergies. Allergies to summer pollens, stinging and biting insects, hidden food ingredients, and smoke from campfires and barbeques can ruin an otherwise perfect activity for some people. | | | | | Summer Pollen Allergy | | Grass pollen is usually the predominant pollen in the air during the summer. Allergy to this pollen can cause sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes, as well as cause asthma attacks in some people. Other people get hives and itching after touching or sitting in the grass. While completely avoiding exposure to grass pollen (and direct contact with grass) may not be possible, there are some measures that can be taken to minimize allergy symptoms. | | | | | | Food Allergies on Picnics | | At outdoor picnics and barbeques, many different people may bring various dishes with hidden ingredients. This can present a real danger to people with food allergies. Accidental exposure to a number of different foods can occur at a picnic, including peanut, egg, milk, seafood, and other nuts. Therefore, people with food allergies should always be prepared to treat an allergic reaction to foods, and most of these reactions happen after accidentally eating a particular food. | | | | | | Allergic Reactions to Stinging Insects | | Stinging insects, such as bees, wasps and yellow-jackets, and biting insects such as mosquitoes, are more active during the summer months, and can cause allergic reactions in certain people. Most people experience localized pain, itching and swelling as a result of being stung or bitten. However, some people experience more severe symptoms, including hives, difficulty breathing, or even life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis) as a result of an insect sting. Insect allergies are curable, so if you think you have an allergy to stinging insects, you should see an allergist to discuss treatment options. | | | | | | Barbecue Allergy | | Exposure to smoke from various sources, such as barbeques and campfires, is also common during the summertime. While this exposure often results in non-allergic irritation of the eyes, nose and lungs, it is possible to be allergic to smoke. If a person is allergic to the pollen of the tree from which the wood was obtained (such as from the mesquite tree), allergy symptoms can occur with exposure to the smoke from the burning wood. People with asthma and sensitive noses and eyes should be careful to avoid being directly exposed to smoke from barbeques and campfires, and have asthma rescue medicines readily available in case they are needed. | | | | | | | | | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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