-
Maya N. Gharfeh, MD said allergies can be just as bad in the winter as spring. Courtesy photo
Think you will get a break from allergies during Oklahoma’s winter weather season? Cedar pollen season arrives just when you think allergy season is over.
“Cedar trees are most prevalent in central Texas and extend north into Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. Pollen is easily spread during the winter throughout our state thanks to our strong winds,” says Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Allergist Maya Gharfeh, M.D. “Unlike most other trees, cedar pollinates in the winter, hence, the presence of cedar allergy symptoms from December to early March.”
Cedar Fever is not a flu or virus – it is an allergic reaction to pollen released by mountain cedar trees. The predominant series of mountain cedar is the Ash juniper. With so much cedar pollen in the air, it overwhelms the immune system causing an allergic response.
Sometimes even those who don’t normally have allergies can be affected by cedar pollen. The favorite time for cedars to release its pollen is right after a cold front.
Mountain cedar trees aren’t actual cedar trees, they are members of the juniper family called Juniperus ashei. The small, light pollen granules produced by male mountain cedars can be carried long distances by the wind.
The female trees do not produce pollen instead have seedfilled berries.
With the continued spread of Covid-19 in Oklahoma, many who are having allergy symptoms are worried if they have allergies or Covid. What is the difference?
“As with other seasonal allergy symptoms, if you are suffering from cedar allergy you will notice symptoms of sneezing, itchy or water eyes and nose, congestion and perhaps a cough,” said Dr. Gharfeh. “It is rare to develop fever with allergy symptoms. If you develop an acute onset of fever with or without a new loss of taste or smell with the runny nose symptoms, then you may be dealing with an infection such as Covid-19.”
Avoidance is the best way to prevent cedar pollen allergies at home. Keep your doors and windows closed. Change your air conditioning filter regularly – every three months.
Clean your home frequently to minimize dust and pollen exposure. When you get home, take a shower to wash any pollen off. Change your clothes whenever you go outdoors. Pets who go in and out should also be bathed frequently to wash off pollen.
If you experience extreme cedar fever symptoms, you may want to consider removing any cedar trees around your home. You can replace the trees with less allergenic trees, such as ash, elm or oak.
How can you tell if it is allergies or a cold/flu? If you have a runny nose and your mucus is clear, it is probably an allergy. If the mucus has color, it is probably a cold or the flu.
Treatment for cedar pollen allergy can include over-the-counter allergy antihistamines and nasal decongestants. Some medications combine antihistamines with decongestants.
These medications normally have a “-D” added to their names. Follow OAAC on social media or website to see the daily pollen and mold counts posted Monday through Friday. Dr. Gharfeh adds that if over-the-counter treatments aren’t working, then it may be time to talk to an allergist.
“Typically, I recommend a medical management plan as the first step to control cedar allergy symptoms,” she said. “However, if these are not sufficient to control the symptoms or there is also concern for concurrent asthma, then I will consider adding allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help alter the immune system’s response to cedar pollen.”
Dr. Gharfeh is the newest member of OAAC’s providers. Her areas of expertise include atopic dermatitis, asthma, food allergy and delayed hypersensitivity. She is board-certified with the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and the American Board of Pediatrics.
The Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic is one of the largest and oldest allergy and asthma practices in the United States. The main clinic is on the Oklahoma University Health Center campus. For patient con
venience, satellite offices are located in Edmond, Norman, Yukon and Midwest City. Visit the OAAC website at www.oklahomaallergy.com to view the addresses for all Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic locations.
To make an initial appointment for an allergy, asthma, or immunology problem or to request more information, please call (405) 235-0040 or visit the website.