York, PA – Shannon McElroy wakes up with a stuffy nose almost every day.

Since moving to York from Baltimore in 2010, she has had reactions to seasonal allergies. this year, she’s one of the many people experiencing early spring hay fever — seasonal allergic rhinitis — symptoms because of the warmer-than-usual winter.

McElroy, 31, said her nasal congestion started becoming more severe in mid-February.

“They have really been bothering me . . . because the weather has been so weird,” she said.

McElroy takes Alavert and uses Nasonex, but she hasn’t yet been to an allergist to figure out what exactly is causing her reactions.

“I’m hoping that I can get in to see an allergist soon and maybe get some relief,” she said.

Dr. David Coutin of Allergy & Asthma Consultants Inc. in Spring Garden Township said tree pollen is the main culprit in the spring. he said he’s already seen an increase in patients with sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and difficulty breathing.

Coutin said that trees started pollinating early this year and that the pollen count is about 25 percent higher than last year so far. Tree pollen counts peak at different times each year, with the average being the last week of April or first week of may. he said the count peaked last year April 8. he anticipates an early peak this year, as well.

Kelly Navarro, lab supervisor, said she recorded a pollen count Monday of 85 grains per cubic meter in York County, with maple as the dominant pollinator. She said that 90 and above is considered high and that many of the local trees — willow, pine, oak, maple, cedar and juniper — are producing pollen.

People with hay fever can be allergic to one or several trees. For those who are allergic to all pollinating trees: “This (Monday) is not a good day for them,” Navarro said.

Coutin said an early start to seasonal allergic rhinitis doesn’t necessarily mean a longer period of symptoms for sufferers. After tree pollen, pollen from grass, weeds and ragweed — respectively — trigger reactions until the first frost.

He said temperature and rainfall affect how soon grass pollinates.

Coutin said there could be some relief for people with allergies today if the temperature dropped to freezing last night and temporarily shut down pollen production.

However, if you have symptoms, don’t wait for them to blow over.

“Allergies do not go away,” he said.

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Allergy advice

Dr. Michael Nickels of Allergy & Asthma Consultants in Spring Garden Township said people suffering from seasonal allergies typically use antihistamines such as Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin; as well as Flonase and Nasonex.

He recommends allergy shots when a patient’s symptoms aren’t reduced by medications.

Nickels said people with hay fever should try to avoid pollen by closing windows, bathing pets and showering after being outside.

“If it’s bad, see your allergist,” he said.

Natural remedies

Dr. Diane Hawk of Hawk’s Natural Health Consultations in Springettsbury Township said she received some early calls from clients suffering from seasonal allergies once trees started budding. One of her East Coast suppliers ran out of an allergy formula she offers because of the early onset, so she had to order it from the West Coast.

People who are sensitive to medications or who want to avoid drowsiness might seek natural remedies. Hawk advises specific herbs and supplements based on an individual’s history and condition. She provided these general natural recommendations for allergy symptoms:

— use Neti Pots and nasal rinses help remove pollen from the nose to mitigate symptoms.

— Eat more vitamin-C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits and broccoli.

— Quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid found in many fruits, flowers and vegetables, acts as an antihistamine and might reduce allergy symptoms. Stinging Nettles also have an antihistamine effect. These are sold as supplements.

Sometimes when I get really depressed and start crying I have these symptoms that are almost like a panic attack: raging heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, chest pains, distress, chills, and fear that I am going crazy. sometimes its so intense I pull my hair. The only thing missing to make it a panic attack is the actual panic and fear. Is there any medical or psychological disorder that matches these symptoms? or am I just having a minor panic attack?

Asthma is the name which is referred to a chronic disease of the respiratory system characterized mainly because the affected person has difficulty breathing. It is important to note that this is an extremely common disorder, as in the U.S. for example, there are approximately seven million children and adolescents with this problem.

Asthma is a disease that affects the bronchi. People with asthma are likely to have infections in their airways, they are inflamed and produce lots of mucus. on the other hand, note that individuals who suffer from asthma are really sensitive to certain situations (physical exercise, dust, cigarette smoke, etc.), which causes the muscles lining the airways to contract and tighten up.

This condition coupled with the infection of the airways causes them to narrow so that the proper airflow through the body is hampered. Main symptoms

Asthma symptoms can vary widely, usually depending on the characteristics of the affected. in some cases it is mild reactions, while in others the symptoms are usually more severe. on the other hand, it is also important to note that not all asthmatics have the same symptoms or not have them as often.

Despite this, note that there are some specific symptoms that are common in people who have asthma. first, we must not fail to mention the wheezing as the most characteristic symptom of asthma. It is a sort of pitched whistling sound that occurs when you breathe, more precisely when the air passes through the narrow airways.

On the other hand, coughing is another symptom, especially when it occurs persistently at night. Also, when it is given at the end of a given exercise or exertion, it may be asthmatic cough. Despite this, it is essential to note that the cough does not always indicate asthma, so we should not rely too much on this sign to identify this disease.

Besides all this, it is important to note that during an asthma attack can take other symptoms, such as an accelerated heartbeat and a rapid rate and abnormal breathing. The latter, in turn, usually causes sweating, anxiety and distress.

Causes

The causes of asthma to this day are not entirely clear. however, it is important to note that studies on the subject have been able to determine that the most common factors of the disease are closely related to allergies, heredity, environmental conditions and even the weight of the affected. besides this, note that there are certain agents that can act as “triggers” of this disease, which include: dust, cigarette smoke, air pollution, certain gases, exercise or cold air.