Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (Spring 2005)

More than 50 million Americans itch, sniffle and sneeze, either year-round or at various times of the year.

    Allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic disease in the United States, costing the healthcare system $18 billion a year. Chronic sinusitis – an infection or inflammation of the sinuses – plagues nearly 32 million people in this country.

   Pollen, mold, dust mites, pet dander, food, medication or environmental factors can cause an allergic reaction in a sensitized person. When an allergen enters the body, the immune system releases histamine. That triggers the sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, swelling, shortness of breath, wheezing and other allergy symptoms.

   Spring, when mold and pollen counts begin to climb, is a prime time for seasonal allergies.

   But figuring out your allergy isn’t always easy. Consulting with your doctor or an allergist/immunologist as well as reading up on allergies is a start.

    Help with both can be found on

healthinfosource.com, a free local web site sponsored by the Health District, Poudre Valley Hospital and Foundation and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment.

    Allergies and asthma are two of the more than 50 health topics consumers will find on

healthinfosource.com. You can visit the allergy topic and find information from respected healthcare organizations that focus on education and treatment of allergies. The web site can point you to information on living with allergies, treatment options, children and allergies, and recipes for people with food allergies. You can even find a link to a web site that gives you today’s pollen count for this area.

    Allergists/clinical immunologists are trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of problems involving the immune system. You can search for specialists like these and other traditional or alternative healthcare providers in the greater Fort Collins area on healthinfosource.com. The web site lists more than 800 healthcare providers, their office location, as well as insurance and other useful information.

Karin Meyer is project coordinator for healthinfosource.com. To learn more about the web site, contact her at 224-5209 or kmeyer@healthdistrict.org.