Navigating seasonal allergies in North Idaho

COEUR D'ALENE -- Spring has sprung, and there’s a certain feeling in the air as the sun begins to shine and things start turning green again.  

For some, that feeling is part of the revitalization that comes with the season change. For many others, it’s seasonal allergies. 

Each year, Dr. Shari Montandon treats hundreds of North Idaho residents struggling with seasonal allergies at the Coeur d’Alene office of Asthma & Allergy of Idaho. Seasonal allergies are just a part of the work she does, but she knows that they’re a struggle for people.   

Seasonal allergies, scientifically known as allergic rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that happen during certain times of the year and usually occur when trees, grasses, and weeds release pollen particles into the air. This process is vital to the ecosystem because these particles are used to fertilize other vegetation.  

Dr. Montandon said that variations in weather from year to year affect how severe the seasonal allergies will be. This is due to weather being a primary indicator of how much of an allergen is being released at a particular time.  

In North Idaho, pollen from the region’s pine and cedar trees and grass pollens are the primary sources of seasonal allergens.  

There’s little rhyme or reason that dictates who will fall victim to seasonal allergies. Some people may be born with it, while others may dodge the proverbial bullet for years or forever.  

“Allergic rhinitis can be acquired or genetic in nature,” Montandon said. “It is common for children of allergic parents to also be allergic. You can also become sensitized to allergens from exposure over time.”  

Seasonal allergies present themselves through several symptoms, some more mild than others. It usually starts with a scratchy or sore throat, but many people experience watery and itchy eyes, a runny nose, congestion, fatigue, and headaches. Some severe cases will even include swelling around the eyes that looks more like the result of a punch rather than the inhalation of pollen.  

When Dr. Montandon is presented with a patient suffering from these symptoms, she gives them a few options for initial treatment. Those include advising the patient to avoid the triggering allergen; taking medications such as antihistamines, eye drops, or steroid-based nasal sprays; or undergoing allergen immunotherapy to desensitize the patient to the allergen.  

Allergen immunotherapy is essentially exposure therapy, where a person is gradually exposed to increasing amounts of an allergen, forcing the body to build up a tolerance to the allergen. According to the National Institutes of Health, this is the only treatment that can alter the course of an allergy, while also potentially preventing the development of new allergies.  

Beyond that, treating the symptoms of seasonal allergies is really up to the person. If their symptoms get beyond their control, they should reach out to a medical professional. 

“There is nothing in particular they need to monitor other than their symptoms,” Montandon said. “The key is to take their medications faithfully and avoid triggering allergens.”  

Dr. Montandon can be found at Asthma & Allergy of Idaho, located in Coeur d’Alene at 714 W. Appleway, ste. 200. Or they can be reached by phone at (208)665-1552.