The Florida Allergy Handbook

The guide to congested, sneezing, itching, coughing relief in the Sunshine State

"An excellent overview of Florida allergens, combining real-life stories with scientific facts."--Patrick DeMarco, MD, practicing allergist

"If you have allergies and live in Florida, you need to have this book on your shelf. It blends useful allergy information with real-life examples to guide you through all the possible allergy triggers in the Sunshine State."--Wendy Wilber, Environmental Horticulture Agent

Florida is the land of sunshine, ocean breezes, magnificent live oak canopies, delicious seafood, and beautiful flowers. But it is also home to an environment that conspires to make many of us suffer from allergy symptoms ranging from light rashes and scratchy eyes to difficulty breathing or anaphylactic shock.

The Florida Allergy Handbook combines scientific explanations for what causes allergic reactions with practical advice on how to minimize symptoms along with cautionary tales from some of the most dramatic sufferers. With a direct, accessible style and a systematic approach, Theresa Willingham begins with the various overlapping pollen seasons and ends with seafood allergens. Along the way she examines plant allergies (including some caused by ingestion), the dangers of mold, and insects, which can cause allergic reactions through stings, bites, contact, or even just close vicinity.

Willingham explains how, of the two ubiquitous late winter bloomers, oak pollen
is far more allergenic than pine. She reveals how moldy duct work or airborne particles of cockroach carapaces in the home can lead to severe reactions and discusses recent research that suggests links between cleanliness and the rise of allergic reactions. She points out the surprising number of mosquito species that live in Florida (more than eighty) and explains why their bites itch, and she offers first-aid advice should you become one of the nearly 1,500 people injured by stingrays each year.

So grab your sunscreen, spritz on the bug spray, light a citronella candle, keep the antihistamines handy, watch what you eat, and fearlessly enjoy Florida's great outdoors.