Blooming plants on campus mean hay fever - not spring fever - for students.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, hay fever, the common name for seasonal pollen allergies, is responsible for about 16 million office visits to health care providers each year in the United States, and cost the country about $18 billion annually.
Though common year-round, April is the worst month in New Mexico for allergens in the air, said Arthur Mares, physician at the UNM Student Health Center.
"There are about four or five trees that are in bloom right now," Mares said. "They will continue pollinating until the end of May."
Sean Domincovitch, UNM freshman, said as April arrives, he finds himself scratching his eyes a lot.
"My eyes get all watery, and I just sneeze a bunch," he said. "It's not bad enough to where I need medication, though."
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Domincovitch said his symptoms usually end in the middle of May.
Mares said the only time New Mexico is actually pollen-free is after the first frost in the fall to around Christmas time.
Tree allergens are responsible for allergy problems in the spring, while grass and weeds make matters worse in the summer and early fall.
"We have a very long season, and that is why it is so miserable," he said.
Mares said when the allergy season starts getting bad around February, students flock to the Health Center for relief.
"Every third person will be complaining about some allergy-related problem," he said.
The Student Health Center has an allergy clinic once a month, but Mares said any physician at the center is able to help with allergy problems.
"We can evaluate the problem and provide prescriptions or advice on immunotherapy," Mares said.
Immunotherapy is a series of vaccines created specifically for the individual after a skin test to determine what the patient is allergic to.
Mares said students can also try over-the-counter medication to suppress allergy symptoms, but said a doctor should be seen because asthma can be an allergy related problem.
"That can be very dangerous if untreated," Mares said. "Your best bet is to see a doctor, and get treated. We have all that right here."
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, preventative strategies for allergy sufferers include avoiding the outdoors on windy days and staying inside between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when pollen counts are highest. Keeping car and home windows closed also prevents exposure.
Mares said if an attack does come on, despite all the torture, students should not rub their eyes.
"If they itch, and you start rubbing them naturally, it is not safe," he said. "Debris can scratch the cornea. Your best bet is to come in for a prescription that is safe to use on the eye and will get rid of the itching immediately."
Mares said this week and last have had high pollen counts, slamming the Student Health Center with patients.
"Most everyone (Wednesday) had allergy problems among other things, so it was a double whammy," he said.
Mares said he hopes things will slow down by the end of May.
"Then we should be in the clear for a while," he said.
