CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
If your allergies have started to flare up recently, pulmonologist at Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctor's Regional, Dr. Rahul Dadhwal says you're not crazy to think that it might be the Saharan dust that's blown into the Coastal Bend.
"At this time of year when you have Saharan dust touching the South Texas part mostly, you can have some exasperated symptoms because of that, Dadhwal said. “Saharan dust contains a lot of allergens in them like dust and all these minerals so it can actually irritate their lung airways, their upper respiratory tract airways as well as their sinuses."
While the dust can affect most people's allergies, Dadhwal adds it has a higher risk of irritating children, older adults and those with underlying conditions such as asthma or COPD.
The dust also carries bacteria and fungus he says can cause respiratory issues for those more sensitive groups.
“Upper respiratory illnesses can be more common with these things. If you have a comorbid condition like heart or lung problems, that can really exasperate those conditions further," Dadhwal said.
Prolonged exposure to Sharan dust can cause adverse reactions to those within the higher-risk group.
To prevent a trip to the E.R., Dadhwal says that prevention is the best cure.
“People who have comorbid conditions should have a KN95 if they're going out and keep their doors and windows closed. On top of it they should also have HEPA filters in their homes to clean their air,” he said.
If you do have an underlying condition that could be affected by the Saharan dust, doctor Dadhwal recommends checking the air quality index before heading out the door.
For those with less severe symptoms, standard allergy medications or steroid and nasal sprays can be used to alleviate those symptoms.
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