Santa Monica, CA-
Spring cleaning can be more than a daunting chore for those with allergies and asthma. Dust, pet hair and cleaning supplies can leave you reaching for the tissues instead of the broom. But according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), spring cleaning can also help you avoid allergy symptoms.
“When pollen counts are high outdoors, you may be inclined to stay indoors to try and avoid allergy symptoms,” said Dr. Bernard Geller, Allergy & Clinical Immunology Medical Group. “But seasonal allergy symptoms can last all year round for those allergic to indoor allergens.”
Relief can sometimes be as simple as knowing how to remove allergens from the home. Allergist Dr. Bernard Geller, Allergy & Clinical Immunology Medical Group and ACAAI have put together useful tips for removing allergens in the home, and ways to avoid accidentally letting more in.
A Fresh Breeze Won’t Please – The first sign of balmy temperatures might give you an urge to open up your windows to bring in fresh scents. But this can also lead to unwanted pollen particles entering the home and making you sneeze long after your spring cleaning is complete. Before you reach for the air fresheners and candles, be aware that chemicals found in these items can spur asthma attacks. Your best option is to opt for natural aromas from the oven or try an organic air freshener.
Rub a Dub, Scrub – Bathrooms, basements and areas that are tiled can be especially prone to mold. The key to reducing mold is moisture control. Be sure to use bathroom fans and clean up any standing water immediately. Scrub any visible mold from surfaces with detergent and water, and completely dry. You can also help ward off mold by keeping home humidity below 60 percent and cleaning gutters regularly.
Love your Pet, Not their Dander – After spending many days indoors over the winter, chances are fur, saliva and dander from your family pet might be elevated throughout your home. Remove pet allergens by vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery, including your pet’s bed. Also be sure to keep your pet out of the bedroom at all times to ensure you can sleep symptom-free.
Whole House Deep Cleaning – Cleaning the entire house from top to bottom may take days. But you can get a head start by changing your air filters every three months and using filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12. Also be sure to vacuum regularly to get rid of dust mites. Use a cyclonic vacuum, which spins dust and dirt away from the floor, or a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Wash bedding and stuffed animals weekly.
Don’t Neglect the Great Outdoors – As the grass turns green and flowers bud, it’s hard to neglect the outdoors during your spring cleaning routine. It’s best to avoid being outdoors when pollen counts are highest (mid-day and afternoon hours). When mowing and gardening, be sure to wear gloves and a N95 particulate pollen mask (Centers for Disease Control (CDC) NIOSH rated), and take your medication before you go outside. Avoid touching your eyes, and be sure to wash your hands, hair and clothing once you go back indoors.
Even when you reduce the number of allergens in your home, allergy symptoms can still be bothersome. Those with seasonal and perennial allergies should be under the care of a board-certified allergist, who can identify the source of your suffering and develop a treatment plan to eliminate symptoms. For more information about treatment of allergies and asthma, visit our website at www.SneezeWheeze.com, or reach us by telephone: (310)828-8534 or by e-mail: FrontOffice@allergyandclinical.com
Not sure if you are experiencing seasonal allergies or something more serious? Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America put together a wonderful chart to help sort things out...
Nebulizer Treatments:
It is very important if you have COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 and are using a nebulizer at home, please keep in mind that the virus may persist in droplets in the air for 1-2 hours. Therefore, the administration of nebulized albuterol should be in a location that minimizes exposure to non-infected members of the household. The location could include outside on a porch or patio or in a garage, where air is not recirculated into the home and dependent surfaces can be easier to clean (or may not need cleaning).
Our primary concern is the health of our patients and staff, to this effect we have suspended walk-in allergy injections so that we can control the flow of patients through proper health screening and social distancing.
For the time being, allergy shots will be given by appointment only Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call the office to set up a time if you are interested in continuing your treatment. In an effort to keep patients from close proximity in the waiting room, please do not come in early or late for your appointment.
We are offering Telehealth visits as an alternative to having patients come into the office. In order to have a TeleVisit, there are a few requirements: The device must have a camera (cell phone, laptop, desktop) and you must be able to use Chrome if you are using a computer. We appreciate your patience during this time as we are implementing new workflows and we understand how frustrating Telehealth can be for some of our patients. Thank you for working with us and we hope to be able to continue to provide you care and treatment.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): As an allergy/immunology office, we see many immune compromised patients. If you have a fever, please DO NOT come into the office. If you think you may have been exposed to the coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms associated with the coronavirus (fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea) please call your primary care doctor for recommendations. If you are asthmatic and experiencing shortness of breath, cough, or wheezing without fever or diarrhea, please call the office so that the nurse or physician assistant may assess your situation.
In order to keep our patients safe, We will be limiting in office visits for the time being. If you’re interested in setting up a virtual visit with Dora or Dr Geller, please call the office for availability. Please do not walk in for allergy shots, call the office for direction. We will provide additional updates shortly.
If you think that you have been exposed to COVID19 please contact your primary care physician for instructions. 
Santa Monica, CA-
Throughout the Midwest and other parts of the country where cold weather traditionally reigns in February and March, residents are thrilled when there are warm winter temperatures. But those who suffer with seasonal allergies know they may be in for a bumpy spring allergy season.
A mild winter can cause an early release of pollens from certain trees, and a longer season may be worsened by the priming effect. Once allergy sufferers are exposed to this early pollen, their immune system is primed to react to the allergens, meaning there will be little relief even if temperatures cool down before spring is in full bloom.
Nobody said spring allergies would be fun, but you never thought it would be this bad. What if you had some simple ways to avoid the sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes and runny nose that come in the spring?
“People think they’re doing everything they can to battle spring allergies,” says allergist Dr. Bernard Geller, Allergy & Clinical Immunology Medical Group. “But many still find themselves under siege from pollen and other allergens that appear once the weather starts to warm up. What they don’t realize is that by following a few simple rules from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, they can make life a lot more pleasant, and their allergies more bearable.”
1. Spring cleaning can spruce up your nasal passages – Sweeping up the cobwebs that gathered over the winter is good for more than just making your house look better. A deep house scrub can help eliminate existing allergens and clear the air. It’s especially important to get rid of mold, which builds up in bathrooms and basements and is a major allergen – especially in spring months when there’s lots of moisture. Because your pets have spent a lot of time indoors over the winter, fur, saliva and dander have probably collected. Vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery and pet beds can help.
2. The power of pollen – Some people with allergies may not realize that symptoms they think are allergy-related, might actually be asthma. Studies have shown that nearly two-thirds of those with asthma also have an allergy, which can make the spring season particularly difficult. If you can’t get rid of a cough, or get winded easily, you might have asthma related to allergies and should see an allergist. An allergist can identify the source of your asthma, and help you treat your allergies to improve symptoms.
3. Time to clear the air – Despite what you may have heard, the best way to clean the air in your home is not with an ionic air filter. The ionization changes the charge on a particle of pollen or dust and the particle sticks to the next thing it comes into contact with, often a wall or surface. There is usually not enough air flow to effectively filter many particles, so ionic filters don’t provide much benefit for allergy sufferers. There is also a health risk which comes from the ozone they produce. The best way to clean the air is with a HEPA room air cleaner rated with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). For those with central air, change your air filters every three months and use filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12.
4. Wait, don’t smell that “fresh” air – Spring comes and you just want to open your windows and let in the fresh air. Don’t do it. Opening your windows allows pollen to drift inside, settle into your carpet, furniture and upholstery and continue to make you miserable. So keep your house and car windows shut during allergy season. Use your air conditioning with the new air filter you just put in.
5. Don’t trust “Dr. Google” – You know you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet, but it’s so tempting to look up cures for your symptoms. Instead, consult an allergist. An allergist is trained in how to identify your allergens and treat your symptoms. They can suggest the most appropriate medications to treat your allergies and asthma. You might even benefit from allergy shots (immunotherapy) which can greatly alleviate allergic suffering.
Sincerely,
Dora Afrahim PA-C
Allergy & Clinical Immunology Medical Group
For more information about treatment of allergies and asthma, visit our website at www.SneezeWheeze.com, or reach us by telephone: (310)828-8534 or by e-mail: FrontOffice@allergyandclinical.com