While autumn’s many natural wonders can fill us with a sense of awe and beauty, it can also fill allergy sufferers with a sense of dread. Fortunately, there is help available for even the most violent sneezer.
What to Watch For
Besides various pollens, which have pretty much run their course by this point in the fall, there is the year-round issue of mold. Mold spores can be nearly everywhere, and mold allergy sufferers can experience everything from sneezing and itchy, watery eyes to more serious complications if they have other respiratory conditions. Keep in mind that while some molds grow and thrive in wet and rainy conditions, others tend to be more prevalent on dry, windy days.
Most sources estimate that there are more than 100,000 different types of molds – not all of which cause allergy symptoms, thankfully – with a variety of fungi called aspergillus being particularly noteworthy. The resulting condition, aspergillosis, is usually found in people with weakened immune systems due to anything from chemotherapy and AIDS to respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and cystic fibrosis.
Although aspergillosis is not an officially reported disease, the CDC estimates that aspergillosis diagnoses in the U.S. increased annually by 5% between 2013 and 2023.
What You Can Do
As mold spores are so widespread, you can never be completely safe from mold spores. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize their presence in your home:
- Control moisture by fixing leaks and otherwise eliminating dampness – ideal mold-growing habitats.
- Increase ventilation, which will help dry out those damp areas.
- Clean regularly to prevent mold spores from settling and growing on surfaces.
- Get rid of it! If you find mold growing, clean it up quickly. If you have particularly large areas of mold (think basements and even damp, poorly ventilated attics), you may want to contact a professional.
Allergy sufferers will be familiar with common, over-the-counter oral antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra. In my experience, those self-treating may often still experience some symptoms.
Regardless of the source or your allergy and your anti-mold activities, you may still feel the effects of “brain fog” – sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, and general malaise. (And you may still be sneezing!) That’s where an allergist comes in.
Visiting an allergy doctor can have many benefits. We can test for specific allergic sensitivity, either via blood tests or skin prick testing. Once culprit allergens are identified, patients are given an individualized treatment plan and booked for a follow-up visit to ensure relief or to change course if symptoms persist.
Allergy doctors focus on lifestyle and allergen avoidance as well as medications. When over-the-counter or prescription medications are not working, allergy shots may be an option. Allergies can have a major negative impact on your quality of life, so if you are suffering, do not hesitate to reach out and make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.
Dr. Claire Smigiel is a board-certified allergy and immunology physician with WPHPA of Scarsdale. To make an appointment, call 914-974-2574.