2 + 2 + 2 = 200
updated June, 2005
We had our winter. It even snowed Christmas Eve! Followed by a quick return to Houston Summer Redux,
with 75 or 80 degrees. Through it all, our patients showed up at The Allergy Clinic needing relief. The quick
changes from cold to hot, and high humidity to low humidity worsened sinus symptoms in all people, not just
those with allergies.
I was reminded of the explanation that Dr. Andy Grant used to give University clinic patients back when Dr.
Malick and I were post-doc allergy fellows at U.T.M.B. Galveston. Dr. Grant would say that when you’re
allergic to more than one thing, it’s more than just adding up the sensitivities. Regarding allergy testing, he
would tell patients, “Your 2+ sensitivity to molds, plus your 2+ sensitivity to ragweed, plus your 2+ sensitivity
to dust mites add up to 200!” That’s because of the priming effect. Remember priming a ground water
pump at a farm? Getting it to pump water by cranking it a few times? Then, the water flows just fine. Well,
the mold, which was high all summer, primed many of us into moderate misery—it only took a little bit of
ragweed to send your allergy symptoms into the stratosphere.
Then the non-allergic weather changes played havoc with our heads and noses. Talk about adding insult to
injury. What to do? As always, put out the fire with a continual coating of low dose nasal corticosteroids if
recommended by your physician. Add on antihistamines to help immediate symptoms, and do your best to
stay away from what you’re allergic to.
When necessary, get to the doctor’s office sooner rather than later so you’re still being treated for allergies
instead of for a sinus infection or for bronchitis. Lastly, prevention beats treatment in the long run.
Prevention of symptoms usually means the prescription nose sprays. Prevention of the allergy itself is
accomplished with allergy shots.
updated June, 2005
We had our winter. It even snowed Christmas Eve! Followed by a quick return to Houston Summer Redux,
with 75 or 80 degrees. Through it all, our patients showed up at The Allergy Clinic needing relief. The quick
changes from cold to hot, and high humidity to low humidity worsened sinus symptoms in all people, not just
those with allergies.
I was reminded of the explanation that Dr. Andy Grant used to give University clinic patients back when Dr.
Malick and I were post-doc allergy fellows at U.T.M.B. Galveston. Dr. Grant would say that when you’re
allergic to more than one thing, it’s more than just adding up the sensitivities. Regarding allergy testing, he
would tell patients, “Your 2+ sensitivity to molds, plus your 2+ sensitivity to ragweed, plus your 2+ sensitivity
to dust mites add up to 200!” That’s because of the priming effect. Remember priming a ground water
pump at a farm? Getting it to pump water by cranking it a few times? Then, the water flows just fine. Well,
the mold, which was high all summer, primed many of us into moderate misery—it only took a little bit of
ragweed to send your allergy symptoms into the stratosphere.
Then the non-allergic weather changes played havoc with our heads and noses. Talk about adding insult to
injury. What to do? As always, put out the fire with a continual coating of low dose nasal corticosteroids if
recommended by your physician. Add on antihistamines to help immediate symptoms, and do your best to
stay away from what you’re allergic to.
When necessary, get to the doctor’s office sooner rather than later so you’re still being treated for allergies
instead of for a sinus infection or for bronchitis. Lastly, prevention beats treatment in the long run.
Prevention of symptoms usually means the prescription nose sprays. Prevention of the allergy itself is
accomplished with allergy shots.
The Allergy Clinic
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
