Fall allergies leave students sniffling
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Features
Ah, September on Hillsdale College's campus: Lush, green grass carpets the Hill, the arboretum blooms with stunning plant life, and the trees display their vibrant colors for the last time before the fall winds sweep them away.
However, if you see students walking around campus with tears in their eyes, don't attribute their tears to the landscape's breathtaking beauty. For many on Hillsdale's campus, the exquisite early fall season means only one thing - terrible allergies.
Sneeze-causing culprits
Types of histamines such as pollens, ragweed, dust mites and grass make allergy sufferers tear up worse than usual this time of year, said Maureen Cousino, nurse director of Student Health Services.
"Since I've been going to Hillsdale, I've had allergies," junior Gregory Sparks said. "I don't know to what. I think it might be the flowers."
Sophomore Brynna Laughlin also said that she did not know what caused her allergies, only that they got worse at night.
"I'm really stuffed up and congested right now," she said.
Dust bunnies attack
Not all allergens come from outside. For some students, nature is the only escape from the mold and dust found in many buildings around campus. Sophomore Cara Burke, a Whitley Hall resident who suffers from dust and mold allergies, faces problems each time she enters the residence hall.
"When I go in, I start sneezing a lot even though [Whitley] tries to keep [the mold] under control," Burke said. "Sometimes, classroom buildings [give me problems]. Neidfelt
[Residence] is really dusty, and I sneeze a lot there."
Finding relief
While students suffer from many of the same problems, not all of them take the same approach to cure them. Laughlin has never been to a doctor about her allergies or in general, but uses Claritin to relieve her symptoms. Burke swears by water and hot tea. Some students neglect treatment entirely.
"I just would rather die than get stabbed with an Epi-Pen," Sparks said.
Cousino, an allergy sufferer herself, offered several less drastic solutions to students looking for allergy relief-particularly antihistamine medications.
"Benadryl definitely knocks you out, [but] all medicines don't make you as sleepy as they used to," she said. "Also, going to the doctor to get allergy serum shots for a few years helps you build up your immunity."
Cousino also recommended drinking a lot of fluids to replace those lost through runny sinuses and eyes.
For some, however, the kindness of fellow students is the best medicine in helping them deal with their allergies.
"People are very nice [when I start sneezing]," Birke said. "They'll say, 'God Bless you. Would you like a Kleenex?' instead of getting annoyed."
However, if you see students walking around campus with tears in their eyes, don't attribute their tears to the landscape's breathtaking beauty. For many on Hillsdale's campus, the exquisite early fall season means only one thing - terrible allergies.
Sneeze-causing culprits
Types of histamines such as pollens, ragweed, dust mites and grass make allergy sufferers tear up worse than usual this time of year, said Maureen Cousino, nurse director of Student Health Services.
"Since I've been going to Hillsdale, I've had allergies," junior Gregory Sparks said. "I don't know to what. I think it might be the flowers."
Sophomore Brynna Laughlin also said that she did not know what caused her allergies, only that they got worse at night.
"I'm really stuffed up and congested right now," she said.
Dust bunnies attack
Not all allergens come from outside. For some students, nature is the only escape from the mold and dust found in many buildings around campus. Sophomore Cara Burke, a Whitley Hall resident who suffers from dust and mold allergies, faces problems each time she enters the residence hall.
"When I go in, I start sneezing a lot even though [Whitley] tries to keep [the mold] under control," Burke said. "Sometimes, classroom buildings [give me problems]. Neidfelt
[Residence] is really dusty, and I sneeze a lot there."
Finding relief
While students suffer from many of the same problems, not all of them take the same approach to cure them. Laughlin has never been to a doctor about her allergies or in general, but uses Claritin to relieve her symptoms. Burke swears by water and hot tea. Some students neglect treatment entirely.
"I just would rather die than get stabbed with an Epi-Pen," Sparks said.
Cousino, an allergy sufferer herself, offered several less drastic solutions to students looking for allergy relief-particularly antihistamine medications.
"Benadryl definitely knocks you out, [but] all medicines don't make you as sleepy as they used to," she said. "Also, going to the doctor to get allergy serum shots for a few years helps you build up your immunity."
Cousino also recommended drinking a lot of fluids to replace those lost through runny sinuses and eyes.
For some, however, the kindness of fellow students is the best medicine in helping them deal with their allergies.
"People are very nice [when I start sneezing]," Birke said. "They'll say, 'God Bless you. Would you like a Kleenex?' instead of getting annoyed."
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