Climate Change is not only melting the polar ice caps, but it is also exponentially increasing the allergy hot spots all over the United States. Dr. Clifford Bassett sat down with Dr. Oz to discuss how to brace yourself for one of the worst allergy seasons we have yet to see.
Some allergy sufferers experience Oral Allergy Syndrome — a tingling of the mouth and throat after the ingestion of certain foods. This may be due to an allergic cross-reaction with the food an tree pollen.
Dr. Clifford Bassett has put together a set of allergy season survival tips for Dr. Oz. Record-breaking levels of seasonal pollen make this guide more important than ever.
Are You Allergic To Love?
Valentine’s Day is almost here and we’re all looking forward to cuddling up next to the one we love. The only thing standing in the way… is possible allergies!
Being allergic to love may seem counter intuitive, but according to a recent study, allergy sufferers reported more problems with sleep and sexual activity than other groups. – in fact, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis reported that their condition affected sexual activities.
Think about it: if you can’t breathe, your nose is running, and your eyes are itchy, you most likely don’t feel very attractive or sexy. Some may also find that their allergies affect their level of exercise exertion – whether it’s traditional exercise at the gym, or sex.
Dr. Clifford Bassett, an adult and pediatric allergy specialist, diplomate of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and medical director, is a clinical assistant professor of medicine and on the teaching faculty of NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone Medical Center, in NYC. He is also a clinical assistant professor of medicine and Otolaryngology and at SUNY Downstate – LICH in Brooklyn, New York. He a fellow of the American College and the American Academy of Allergy and was a past chair the Chair, Public Education Committee. Recently, Dr. Bassett was honored by US News and World Report with a position on the National Top Doctor list, which includes those whom Castle Connolly has determined to be in the top 10 percent of the region’s physicians.
Dr. Bassett has authored scientific articles and chapters, as well as given lectures at a myriad of nationwide scientific meetings. Dr. Bassett has also contributed to articles in Time, The New York Times (Science Times Section with Anahad O’Connor), Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Newsweek, National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, New York Daily News, New York Newsday, New York Post, Baby Talk, Prevention, The Journal of the American Medical Association, Health, Parents, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic, Woman’s World, Self, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Family Circle, Time Out NY, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Shape, Cat and Dog magazine and USA Today.
Dr. Bassett’s media and television appearances include CNN, MSNBC, CBS’s “The Early Show,” NBC’s “The Today Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “NBC Nightly News,” FOX News Network, Dr. Oz Show, Telemundo and NPR. He also conducted a home makeover and been a regular guest on the Doctor Oz Show. A current video list of appearances may be found at www.allergyreliefnyc.com and his weekly blog at www.allergyepidemic.com. For his twitter go to: @ allergyreliefny
Dr. Clifford Bassett explains how you can get relief from the worst allergy season in years.
As an allergist I have to say, its one of the highest pollen count seasons in recent memory, probably in at least ten years, but I think its probably the worst allergy season I’ve ever seen as an allergist.
There are clearly multiple reasons for the perfect storm, the worst allergy season ever. An over abundance of precipitation and rain in the winter and early spring everywhere, perhaps over planting of male plants in many areas and finally a lot of prolonged, dry, warm weather in the last few weeks in many areas where there wasn’t a lot of precipitation and rain to wash the pollen away. Pollen counts are at record levels, people are suffering and people coming in for their very first time from allergy symptoms whether it be itchy eyes, cough, asthma, wheezing, than ever before of all ages. So it really is the perfect storm and we are seeing a lot of suffering out there and that’s why people should get tested, see an allergist and have an individual action plan in place for proper treatment and again early treatment and pretreatment works better than if you suffer. So we want to pre-treat and identify people that have allergies treat them safely and correctly. Also we want to find out if you’re a candidate for allergy shots. Allergy shots are wonderful and can provide over ninety percent relief, long term to fix the allergy problem.
The bottom line is understanding your environment, checking your pollen count, weather forecast you plan ahead. If you know pollen is going to be higher 5 to 10 am in the morning you want to think about avoiding high pollen activities outdoors. Exercise indoors, pre-treat yourself with medications or wait until the end of the day when pollen counts are lower. Hot windy days pollen is stirred up those are high pollen days. When its rainy and drizzly counts come down, perhaps if you have outdoor activities save it for a drizzly rainy day and finally have an allergy action plan in place. Know five things that you can do right now to help you when the allergy season hits. They are sunglasses, taking your medications before you need them, washing wisely washing your hair, eyelids and nasal saline sprays to wash away the pollen before you come into your bedroom at night. Also avoiding fruits and vegetables this time of the year, particularly if you have a tree pollen allergy. Hazelnut, almond, apple, pear, carrot a variety of stone fruits can cause itchiness of the throat or oral allergy syndrome can really aggravate seasonal allergies. So as allergist have a variety of solutions and practical tips for preventing allergy symptoms, treating you if you’re unlucky to have allergies and finally learning if you’re an allergy candidate for shots or allergy injections to ultimately fix the problem long term.
We know because of global warming gasses and carbon dioxide in elegant studies done at USDA it tells certain plants to produce more pollen and perhaps the pollen releases faster and it may even be more potent and this may explain this pollen explosion not only here in the United States but throughout the world. The environment is changing and people who are allergically predisposed to be allergic are being exposed to large and large amounts of pollens.
The good news is that treatment is available, its safe, its effective and we can make them feel better pretty quickly, but allergy treatment is something we like to base upon testing and its simple, in office, easy to do, virtually painless test within 10 or 20 minutes can provide a really good snapshot if you have seasonal allergies what are the offending allergens and how to best treat them. Prevention, control measures, medications and finally allergy shots for people that suffer that really want to get the long term cure and the long term fix for this condition which is eminently treatable.
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Dr. Cliff Bassett, an allergist with NYU/Long Island College Hospital, explains why this allergy season is so severe and what steps can be taken to relieve symptoms.
Data shows more than 35 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. Dr. Clifford Bassett recently appeared as a guest on the Dr Steve Show to explain ways to manage your allergies.
“Winter weather, early spring and most areas of the United States… a lot of precipitation, a lot of water priming the pump, priming those trees also global warming. There is more pollen as a result of carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, that tells the plants to produce more pollen, the pollen itself may be more powerful, spelling misery for those allergy sufferers.” Dr. Bassett explains.
The Season for Allergies: MyFoxNY.com
MYFOXNY.COM – Allergy season is in full bloom, and the tell-tale signs are there: itchy and watery eyes and a runny nose. Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist from Long Island College Hospital, says you don’t have to suffer.
It is estimated that at least one of every 100 people in the US may not have an adequate “sense of smell”. That’s right, its more common they you think. Maybe you don’t even realize you do not smell those lovely flowers, cooking aromas, etc. Remember it is necessary to have a proper sense of smell to enjoy the nuances of fine cuisine, flavors while eating. It was once thought that women had better “smell detection”, it appears that is not the case. Sorry, ladies!
Some of the most common causes of “smell dysfunction” that be around 2 million individuals include, allergies (naturally), sinus problems, injuries, structural abnormalities of the nose and sinuses, infection and prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals.
Smell Lingo
• Unable to smell, at all: anosmia
• Incorrect sense of smell, not as it should: dysosmia
• Less smell than normal: hyposmia
• Sensation of smell is “worse” they it is: parosmia
There are only a few places in the US where one can really get a very comprehensive evaluation of “smell and taste” problems. One can also find some practitioners that can provide a simple, quick in-office “sniff and smell” test to get you diagnosed.
Some of us can find a medication we are taking may interfere with your “sense of smell and/or taste” as well as certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and dementia. It also appears that in some cases difficulties with normal smell can improve, too.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smelltaste may provide some additional info and tips for this condition.
NEW YORK (CBS 2) — Our eager countdown to Spring is also a countdown to misery for allergy sufferers, but as Elise Finch reports, there are things you can do right now to help stop allergy symptoms before they get started.
Spring time and seasonal allergies go hand in hand. “Tearing eyes, blowing my nose a lot, sneezing,” said Benjamin Burnat of Teaneck.
“It feels like you can’t breathe for me,” said Joe Arlak of Manalapin.
“You feel run down you’re not sure what the problem is, you think you’re sick but you’re not,” said Regina Alama of Park Slope.
Alama finally figured out what her problem was a few years ago.
“We can do very simple allergy testing in the office. It takes less than 20 minutes to pinpoint if you have allergies to seasonal pollens,” said Dr. Clifford Bassett of allergist.
Her allergist, Dr. Clifford Bassett, said this year was expected to be an aggressive and early pollen season, thanks in part to the heavy winter snow.
That means now is the time to get prepared.
“Many people don’t realize it but allergy season occurs weeks before you start to see the tree pollen and weeks before the Spring arrives,” said Dr. Bassett. “Have a plan in place and learn to pre-treat your allergy symptoms before they occur.”
A good allergy action plan begins in a medical office but it should continue in your home.
“Find out what the indoor triggers are in your home and learn ways to eradicate or control them. It’s important to de-clutter your bedroom. That’s where you’re exposed to the number one bad guy, the house dust mite,” said Dr. Bassett.
Dr. Bassett said in addition to de-cluttering you should also dust while wearing a face mask. Wash all of your bedding in hot water to kill dust mites and neutralize other allergens.
Replace your pillows if you haven’t done that recently and purchase or change the air filters in your home.
“Everything together will hopefully make me into a healthier person,” said Regina Alama of Park Slope.
So far Alama said medication and environmental modification really are working.
