Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Allergy, Your Health
A cold spring and wet summer can produce a ragweed season that wreaks havoc for many New Yorkers, says Anthony Del Signore, MD, PharmD, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology and Director of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery at Mount Sinai Downtown-Union Square.
Ragweed grows best in wet conditions, producing enough pollen to affect allergy sufferers when the weather turns warm and dry. Typically, the ragweed season begins in August, peaks in September, and can last until November. As summer winds down, and global temperatures continue to increase, pollen counts rise. Warmer temperatures in the autumn, which often persist well into the winter, present a host of issues for allergy sufferers as these conditions contribute to a lengthier ragweed season. The ragweed pollen grain is fine and light, allowing for easy dissemination by wind. Given its low weight, pollen has been known to remain airborne for many days and travel hundreds of miles. Elevated pollen counts are most visible on warm, windy days, and daytime hours when plants are in full bloom. Cool, rainy, wet days can provide some respite with low pollen counts.
Ragweed Allergy Symptoms Not everyone is a sufferer, but approximately 20 percent of the population can be sensitive to ragweed pollen. Symptoms include:
- Inflammation of the nasal cavity, nasal lining, and structures within the nose, leading to difficulty breathing, pressure, pain, and congestion
- Nasal drip
- Runny nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Scratchy throat
Some people can also experience difficulty breathing, asthma exacerbation, sinus infection, and cough. Ragweed allergies can also cross-react and cause itching, burning, and swelling in the mouth with certain foods, including bananas, melons, beans, potatoes, celery, and cucumbers.
Treatment for Ragweed Allergies
Treatment for ragweed allergies often begins with prevention and avoidance. Frequent household cleaning, changing linens, and washing bedding and clothes can minimize daily exposures. Nasal saline washes are extremely important to decrease pollen levels within the nasal cavity. Medications become an important part of surviving the season. Over-the-counter medications are often the first line of defense. Antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroid sprays are the most popular options. Staying ahead of the pollen levels is extremely important, so pre-treatment with antihistamines and nasal sprays may help. For those with persistent symptoms, prescription-strength oral medications and nasal sprays may be needed to control symptoms and provide relief. For those with an allergy verified through skin or blood testing, allergy shots or drops can be used to slowly help patients become immune to yearly symptoms.
When Allergy Sufferers Should See a Physician
Allergy sufferers should seek the care of a physician if symptoms persist for more than three months or the sufferer experiences;
- Worsening nasal obstruction
- Nasal bleeding
- Sinus infections
- Watery nose
- An increase in asthma An allergist and ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor can help provide relief.
Allergists can arrange for a testing of allergens, with either blood tests or skin-prick testing; provide advice on avoidance; and administer allergy shots. ENT doctors can help with persistent nasal obstruction, congestion that is not improving, or worsening symptoms by providing oral and nasal medications. More importantly, an ENT can help rule out structural abnormalities within the nasal cavity that may exacerbate symptoms.
Commonly seen issues include;
- Nasal polyps that block the nasal airway
- A deviated septum causing airway obstruction
- Inferior turbinate hypertrophy, which can decrease the amount of space available for air to pass through in the nose.
Allergy sufferers should be clear to ask their doctor the following important questions:
- What medications are best to control my symptoms?
- Are there structural issues within my nose that may be leading to more symptoms than usual?
- Is the source of my nasal drip allergies or should I be concerned about something more?
During allergy season, sufferers should track pollen counts in their geographic area. Pollen.com, both a website and mobile app, tracks pollen counts year-round. In addition, it can alert sufferers as to which seasonal allergens are most important in certain geographic areas. For information regarding allergy symptoms and treatments, American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology is an excellent resource.
Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology and Director of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery at Mount Sinai Downtown-Union Square
Dr. Del Signore’s specific clinical interests include endoscopic minimally invasive management of chronic sinusitis, paranasal sinus and skull base tumors, cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF), and allergic disease. His current research is focused on health outcomes following skull base surgery and the implementation of sinus treatment protocols and surgical intervention.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health
In just the past few years, advances in treatment for Hepatitis C have been nothing short of astounding, notes Douglas T. Dieterich, MD, Director, Institute of Liver Medicine, Professor of Medicine, Division of Liver Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Unfortunately, most people with the potentially deadly liver disease do not know they are infected, living for decades with this silent killer until it is too late to prevent serious liver damage.
Read the article in the HuffPost.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health
Sleep apnea is estimated to affect more than 20 million Americans, though doctors say that 80 percent of those cases remain undiagnosed. The disorder is so common that just about everyone has some level of risk, but people who are overweight or who experience daytime sleepiness are considered at high risk, according to Omar Burschtin, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Read the article in The Daily News
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health
Though media attention has diminished, Zika still poses a threat to many countries, including the United States, according to Jean K. Lim, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Read the article in the HuffPost
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Your Health
For kids playing outside this summer, safety is key to a healthy, fun experience. Here are some tips from two Mount Sinai Health System experts who work with the United States Tennis Association: James Gladstone, MD, Co-chief of the Sports Medicine Service and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, and Melissa Leber, MD, Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine and Emergency Medicine, and Director of Emergency Department Sports Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West.
Read the article in Metro New York
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Featured, Your Health
From left: David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital; Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System; Kenneth L. Davis, MD; Madeline Bell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and Lisa M. Satlin, MD, Herbert H. Lehman Professor and Chair, Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
The Mount Sinai Health System and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) launched the next phase of their 18-month-old alliance on Wednesday, May 31, as they officially opened their Fetal Medicine Program and announced an affiliation of the Mount Sinai Children’s Heart Center with the Cardiac Center at CHOP. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the third floor of the Annenberg Building—the location of the new Fetal Medicine Suite—that was attended by several dozen leaders and staff from both institutions.
The Mount Sinai and CHOP alliance began in the fall of 2015 and includes three areas: fetal medicine, pediatric cardiac care, and pediatric oncology. In all three areas, the collaboration intends to give patients and their families access to the most advanced diagnostics and treatments by Mount Sinai and CHOP specialists at several Mount Sinai locations.
“We are combining our strengths to give children in the New York metropolitan area access to an unprecedented scope of pediatric services,” Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, told the guests.
“CHOP is pleased to mark this milestone in the relationship between two health care institutions that are totally dedicated to caring for the health of children and their families,” Madeline Bell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said. “The alliance continues to evolve and reflects both a shared vision to better serve families in the New York region and a mutual professional respect and admiration between our organizations.”
The Fetal Medicine Program is unique for New York: it allows expectant parents facing a high-risk pregnancy to have a comprehensive fetal diagnosis conducted and then reviewed in full detail with a team of specialists, all in a single day. “By the end of the day, parents will have their questions answered, understand the treatment options, and be equipped to make the best decisions for their families,” said Dr. Davis.
From left: Khanh Nguyen, MD, Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Chief, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Mount Sinai Hospital; Joanne Stone, MD, MS; and Peter Pastuszko, MD.
Ultrasound, echocardiography, fetal magnetic resonance imaging, and all diagnostic testing will be performed at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Images will be read by specialists in fetal radiology at CHOP and Mount Sinai in coordination with Mount Sinai maternal-fetal medicine specialists using telemedicine video links. “In effect, we are building a dream team of fetal medicine,” said Joanne Stone, MD, MS, Director, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, and Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
The new pediatric cardiac care alliance includes the Fetal Heart Program, which aims to diagnose congenital heart disease as early as 12-14 weeks gestation using fetal echocardiography. Specialists at Mount Sinai and CHOP would then jointly develop an optimal plan for care. Additionally, the Children’s Heart Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital, overseen by the divisions of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, and offering a continuum of care from fetal to adult life, will now have access to the expertise of CHOP’s Cardiac Center in areas such as pediatric cardiac intensive care and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. The Mount Sinai and CHOP teams are able to provide joint expertise at all points of treatment through direct consultation and use of telehealth technology.
“Every day, we are confronted with new babies who depend upon us for life,” said Peter Pastuszko, MD, Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Services, Mount Sinai Health System, and Professor, Cardiovascular Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Today, we are well equipped to handle a congenital heart defect of any complexity.”
The event featured a videoconference with N. Scott Adzick, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Director of the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Professor of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the CHOP team.
