Cedars-Sinai Pulmonologist Offers Commonsense Advice On Coping With A Prolific Allergy Season In California Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close 25 March 2008 02:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Cedars-Sinai Pulmonologist Offers Commonsense Advice On Coping With A Prolific Allergy Season In California Los Angeles - March 25, 2008 - California’s generous winter rains have set the stage for a spectacularly lush spring—and a potentially severe allergy season, says Zab Mosenifar, M.D., medical director, Women’s Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “The trails are magnificent,” notes the longtime mountain runner, who just completed his 26th Catalina Marathon. “I’d never seen the flowers I saw along the Santa Monica trails this season. The landscape is absolutely luscious.” But there’s a price to pay for this abundant natural beauty, Mosenifar is quick to point out. “Flowers bring pollen,” he states. “And when it’s windy, the pollen travels miles and miles and miles.” For people with a history of allergies, that can mean trouble. Mosenifar says allergy sufferers need commonsense advice on how to cope with seasonal symptoms—not a dramatic change in lifestyle. “You don’t have to pick up and move,” he stresses. Instead, he suggests taking some simple steps to minimize allergy discomfort: 1. Exercise early or late. At mid-day, higher temperatures and prevailing winds can stir up pollen, exacerbating symptoms during exercise and other outdoor activities. 2. Move potted plants outdoors. When indoor plants begin to bloom, allergy sufferers can experience a surge in unpleasant symptoms. Move any offending species outdoors until sensitivity abates. 3. Banish household mold. Check for signs of moisture in carpeting and other home furnishings and air completely until dry. Also check outside your house for sources of standing water and mold-provoking dampness. 4. Replace pillows regularly. Down pillows are particularly prone to mold and dust mites. Encase new pillows in mite-proof covers to minimize problems and extend their life. 5. Control symptoms with medications. There are many effective allergy medications on the market with few side effects, unlike older drugs that caused drowsiness. These medications can help control such symptoms as sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat, and itchy, watery eyes. Some allergy sufferers experience headaches and dizziness and may feel unsteady, or “wobbly,” on their feet. “Consult a physician well-versed in allergy medications and follow a prudent course of treatment,” Mosenifar advises. Share this release Cedars-Sinai Pulmonologist Offers Commonsense Advice On Coping With A Prolific Allergy Season In California Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home