True or False?

1. It's hard to pinpoint the cause of a food allergy.

2. Pollen counts tend to be highest in the early evening when
dampness can hold the pollen close to the ground.

3. Decongestant, over-the-counter nasal sprays can be used for up
to two weeks at a time.

4.Over 3 million visits to doctors are attributed to hay fever each year.

5.The desert is the place to be if you are allergic to pollen.

6. Overwatering plants can kill them and aggravate your allergies.

Answers

1. False. The vast majority of people with food allergies are allergic to only one or two particular foods. With guidance from you, a Board Certified allergist should be able to narrow the list of suspect foods to just a few possibilities.

2. False. Pollen counts tend to be highest early in the morning on warm, dry, breezy days.

3. False. They're helpful to use a couple of times a day for up to
three days when you have a really bad cold. If you use them longer than that you can become addicted to them and your nose will get even stuffier.

4. False. Not even close. It's 8 million!

5. False. Our deserts may not have maple trees or ragweed but they do have such things as sagebrush, olive trees and cottonwood. If you're sensitive to some pollens you may be allergic to new ones in a new environment.

6. True. Wet soil encourages mold growth.

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