The pollen problem
LOREN BENOIT/Press Beachgoers wade in Lake Coeur d’Alene as pollen collects along the shoreline of City Beach Tuesday afternoon. Warmer weather has caused an increase in the yellow pine pollen, with grass pollen also causing eye and nose irritation for area residents.
Pollen collects along the shoreline at Hayden Lake Tuesday. LISA JAMES/Press
LISA JAMES/PressRyan Hilgar, standing, fishes with Marcus Smith as pollen sits heavy on the surface of Hayden Lake Tuesday.
LISA JAMES/Press Ryan Hilgar, standing, fishes with Marcus Smith as pollen sits heavy on the surface of Hayden Lake Tuesday.
COEUR d’ALENE — You just can’t miss the yellow stuff.
It’s everywhere this time of year, including on and in you — in many cases causing itchy eyes and runny noses.
With that sickly yellow blanket coating cars in a matter of an hour or two, some people believe this season is worse than others.
But Dr. Chad D. McCormick — an ear, nose and throat specialist affiliated with Kootenai Health — said this rendition of the yellow plague isn’t really anything special.
“It seems like every year is the worst year ever for allergies,” McCormick said. “As far as the actual load of pollen ... this is typical.”
Part of ENT basic training involves allergy treatment, since one of every three ENT patients experiences symptoms from inhalant allergens, such as pollen, animal dander and dust mites, McCormick said.
McCormick said the pollen count increased because of the warm weather. With Tuesday the hottest day of the week, reaching 90 degrees in Coeur d’Alene, it also had the highest pollen count.
“The next few days it declines when it cools down, and by the weekend it’ll warm up again and the pollen count will go up,” McCormick said.
Certain times of year affect some people more than others, mostly based on the kind of pollen in the air. Tree pollens are usually seen most at the end of February and into March. Now through June, grass pollen is most prevalent, and July brings weed pollen, which sticks around until the first frost of the year.
“Some people say May and June is the worst time of year. That immediately tells me that person is most likely reactive to grass pollen in particular. If they say more in August, it’s probably the weed pollen,” McCormick said.
McCormick said right now, there’s some overlap between tree and grass pollens. The bright yellow everyone sees on cars is pine pollen. While it’s the easiest to see, it probably isn’t causing your reaction.
The pollens that cause symptoms are usually from birch, elm and cottonwood trees, McCormick said. Those pollens, like most, can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Ryan Shenefelt, a resident of Post Falls, said he’s experienced allergy symptoms his whole life, and his allergies worsen depending on where he is.
“If I’m in a city, it’s not too bad, but in the woods it’s way worse,” Shenefelt said.
But according to McCormick, it doesn’t actually make a difference whether you’re in an area with more plants or fewer.
“Living in the mountains or woods doesn’t necessarily mean the symptoms are going to be much worse than if you’re living in Coeur d’Alene because the pollens are so widespread,” he said.
Those with a family history are more likely to suffer from allergy symptoms than those who don’t. People with asthma are also more sensitive to inhalant allergens, McCormick said.
McCormick said those with the most significant allergy symptoms come in feeling miserable. But with proper treatment, patients start to notice improvements.
Treatment for allergies includes over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays. For those with chronic, severe symptoms, immunotherapy is an option.
Immunotherapy has two versions: allergy shots and allergy drops. Studies show the allergy shots tend to be more effective and are covered by most insurance companies, McCormick said.