April 23, 2008
The blooming trees and warm, dry weather of spring are appealing at first, but when the fluffy puffs of yellow pollen in the air start to make your nose run and your eyes itch, it's not so nice anymore.The combination of blooming flowers and higher temperatures leave many students wishing they could skip class and lay in bed sniffling.
This school year, there have been 960 patient visits to the Student Health Center for allergy symptoms, said Dr. Jeff Thomas of the Student Health Center in an email.
"These symptoms can include nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat as well as post nasal drip, cough, irritability and fatigue," Thomas said.
Most patients with allergy symptoms come in during the spring when the pollen count is high, he said.
There can be confusion about allergies for those who have never had them before.
"Because allergy symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, patients often think they have an infection when they may in fact have allergies," Thomas said.
Others have had allergies as long as they can remember. Once spring comes around, these people stock up on the meds.
Regina Cervantez, a Chico native, is used to waking up with a stuffy, runny nose and itchy eyes once the warmer weather hits.
She takes allergy medication, but finds that it makes her drowsy, she said.
"When I take them (medication), I feel out of it," Cervantez said.
It's hard to sit in class and pay attention when you can't stay awake, she said.
Although some people feel sleepy when they take allergy meds, others simply can't function unless they take something to suppress the symptoms.
Freshman Devin Middlebrook takes two different allergy medications all year long, hoping that when spring comes along his head won't get congested, he said.
"I take Flonase and Zyrtec and they help until peak season hits," Middlebrook said.
Unfortunately, despite the medications the pollen and trees and dust still get the best of him.
This could be because of the drastic weather changes that occur with each season combined with the environment in Chico.
"Allergy symptoms are common in Chico because of the surrounding agricultural areas, especially orchards, frequent winds and low humidity which help circulate allergens in the air," Thomas said.
Sophomore Kathryn Ewry never had allergies back home in Marin. Once it got warm Ewry started sneezing and coughing a lot, she said. Her first thought was that she was sick.
"Finally I figured I was just allergic to Chico and I invested in some Claritin," she said. "So now, if I take that I'm fine."
Luckily, there are a lot of students such as Ewry who are successful in finding a medication that can clear them up without making them feel sleepy.
Freshman Melanie McBroom has also never experienced allergies before moving from her hometown of Modesto.
"At first I thought I had the flu or something but when I went to the doctor they told me it was allergies," she said.
The AllerClear she takes helps relieve her stuffy nose and sore throat but doesn't always prevent her from losing her voice, McBroom said.
"Even if I'm feeling alright, it's hard to raise my hand and say something in class if I have no voice," she said.
Courtney Mahoney can be reached at cmahoney@theorion.com
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