Hawaii's Sneezing Season: Manage Allergen, Allergic Rhinitis with Effective Medication and Precautions

Hawaii is a paradise with its sunny tropical beaches, waterfalls, and lush rainforests, but for those who suffer from allergies, a trip to the island can be a nightmare. Symptoms like red itchy eyes, coughing, and congestion can ruin the romantic ambiance. However, with proper planning and preparation, you can minimize the impact of allergies during your visit to heaven-on-earth. To begin with, here's a brief understanding of what causes allergies, so you can think of preventive measures, as reported by AZ Animals.

Individuals with allergies have an immune system that reacts to specific allergens, which can be substances such as chemicals, foods, bee stings, pet hair, mold, dust mites, or tree, grass, and weed pollen. Upon exposure to the allergen, the immune system releases chemicals like histamine, causing symptoms like red and itchy eyes, skin rashes or hives, coughing, nasal discharge, and nasal congestion. Pets can also experience allergies, with many mammals having similar allergens as humans. It's even possible for dogs to be allergic to cats.

Allergy, Itchy Feeling in the Body

Classic allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and post-nasal drip, red and itchy eyes, skin rashes or hives, throat tightness, and coughing can indicate an allergy. This is especially true if you can associate these symptoms with a particular environment or activity. For example, if you experience symptoms when changing bed sheets, you may have an allergy to dust mites. If feeding Timothy hay to your daughter's guinea pig causes discomfort, you may be allergic to either the hay or pet dander or both. However, similar symptoms can also arise from other factors such as colds, the flu, hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety, or structural issues in the bones and tissues of the nose and sinus cavities. When a person experiences allergy symptoms without a known cause, it is referred to as non-allergic rhinitis and can be treated with regular allergy medications.

Determine Your Allergens

The only way to determine if you have an allergy and what exactly you're allergic to is by visiting an allergist for testing. They may perform a skin test by applying small amounts of common allergens to your skin and pricking the skin with a needle to check for a red welted reaction. Alternatively, they may use a patch test by covering the allergen and observing the skin for a reaction over 48 hours. Another option is a blood test, which can reveal if your body has produced antibodies against allergens.

Managing allergies effectively requires avoiding allergens as much as possible. However, since allergens are present both indoors and outdoors, it can be challenging. Some ways to minimize exposure to allergens include removing known sources from your home and yard, keeping your home clean and dust-free, using air conditioning to filter the air, monitoring daily pollen counts, showering and washing clothes after outdoor activities on high pollen days, regularly washing bedding in hot water, wearing a mask during high allergy times, and choosing a hypoallergenic pet. In extreme cases, you may need to consider living in a different area of the country with a less problematic allergy environment.

Different Diagnosis and Symptoms

Allergy symptoms can be managed through various methods, such as over-the-counter medications like decongestants, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and rinses. A list of generic alternatives to four well-known allergy medicines is provided at the end of the article. For more severe cases, an allergist might suggest immunotherapy as a treatment option, which involves gradually exposing the body to increasing amounts of allergens through injections. This approach can be effective, but the process can take up to a year or more and can be costly, particularly if not covered by insurance.

In some cases, allergies may go away without any treatment, but in other cases, they may persist or even get worse. Mild allergies can cause discomfort and inconvenience, but if left untreated, they can lead to more serious conditions such as sinusitis, which can cause breathing problems and painful facial headaches. In severe cases, exposure to an allergen can result in anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition characterized by constricted breathing and a drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and the use of an epinephrine injector. People with severe allergies need to take the necessary precautions to avoid exposure to allergens and be prepared for emergencies, according to Hawai'i Pacific Health.

(Photo : © iStock.com/danielvfung)
Colorful Hawaiian hibiscus in the garden

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Sneezing Season in Hawaii

Now that you've had a crash course in allergies, let's talk about what residents and visitors to Hawaii can anticipate at various times of the year. Hawaii is a volcanic island chain that, thanks to the trade winds, keeps its temperature consistently warm throughout the year. Countless different microclimates and biomes can be found on the islands. There are wetlands, savannas, deciduous forests, deserts, and even rainforests. There is some rare and unusual flora and fauna there.

Pollen from trees, grass, weeds, mold and dust mites are the main allergens in Hawaii. Moreover, volcanic eruptions can cause allergy symptoms due to the smoke and ash they produce, but the timing and intensity of these eruptions are unpredictable. Depending on the weather and ecological conditions, Hawaii's allergy season varies from island to island and day to day. The information we've provided here will give you a general idea of what to anticipate even though it's not an exact science.

Animal Allergies

Animals, especially mammals, can develop some of the same allergies as people. Let's examine the potential allergens that pets can react to, how those symptoms present themselves and treatment options. Food allergies, environmental allergies, and flea allergy dermatitis are a few of the most prevalent types of allergies in pets. Certain food components, such as the kind of protein used or specific additives, can cause allergic reactions in some pets. Some people may have allergies to dust mites, mold, pollen, and other environmental factors. Flea allergies are very common; they are brought on by flea bites and result in severe skin itchiness, biting, and licking. Your pet may develop a nasty and painful skin infection if it is not treated.

Different species of pets and pets with different allergies may exhibit allergy symptoms in various ways. Itching, scratching, biting, or licking the skin are some behaviors to look out for in cats and dogs. This activity's ferocity and persistence contribute to skin irritation and hair loss. Your pet may begin to develop bald spots. Similar to humans, pets may also experience respiratory symptoms. Look for nasal or eye discharges, coughing, wheezing, or other breathing difficulties. Pets sometimes make choking and liquid-coughing noises. To assist your doctor in making a diagnosis, pay attention to its color. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on medications, dietary or environmental changes, and perhaps immunotherapy as well.

Allergy season in Hawaii and its impact on physical and mental health is an important subject to consider. Allergens in the environment, as well as food and seasonal changes, can trigger allergic reactions, including allergic rhinitis. To manage allergies in Hawaii, it is important to identify the allergens, explore the available treatments, and take preventive measures. These treatments can include medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative treatments. All in all, it is important to take the necessary steps to find the best treatment for allergies in Hawaii and to manage any potential health risks.