It's Spring time – the lovely time of year when life re-emerges from the cold, dark reaches of what seems like an eternal Winter. After the record-breaking snowfall here in Philadelphia, followed by an usual cold snap and buckets of rain, April 1st unofficially marked the beginning of Spring for many in our area. This wonderful sunny weather continues today, and is expected to last well into the weekend through the Easter holiday (despite temperatures that are oddly soaring to almost 80 degrees, but I shouldn't complain!).

Unfortunately for me, Spring is also a time for torture. My allergies are in overload and I imagine many more suffer the same. Though my allergies are all-year-round, pollen, warm temperatures, and grass cuttings worsen all my reactions – sinus headaches, runny nose, sinus congestion, and ever-present sneezing. Just last night I was in the throws of sneezing fit and sinus headache while trying to go to sleep.

(www.flickr.com/brookenovak)

Over the last two years I've drastically changed my lifestyle in order to decrease my reactions. I've done everything from eliminating all perfumes and dyes, to fully moving into an apartment without carpet. I've said goodbye to both alcohol and raw onion (which cause me strange dizziness).

Alas, nothing has worked and my only option is to finally see an allergist. Yet even then my future looks bleak; a family history of allergy and asthma compounded with my exhaustive measures means there's probably only one more option left for me – allergy shots. We will see how that goes.

In any case, my sneezing fit last night had me thinking about the weather, my fellow allergy sufferers, including food, and the varied therapy modalities. Do a lot of your clients have allergies? And if so, how do the both of you deal, especially respiratory and speech-language pathologists. RTs, in what ways do you see respiratory function affected by the many displays of allergy symptoms? SLPs, do your clients' allergies ever affect a session or impede improvement? PTs, do allergy-prone clients shun outdoor exercise?

Today's nutrition feature about celiac disease and food allergies is timely. Though I'm fortunate that my condition isn't as nearly as bad as what others must endure, it does seem that awareness and sufferers of both food and respiratory allergies have increased in over the decades. And as April 1st heralded in the new season of mild weather for my region and the rest of the East Coast, the day also marks the beginning of Autism Awareness Month.

As Therapy Times' new monthly issue debuts next Monday with new features and news, many community articles will be focusing on autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In writing and preparing for this issue, I've learned quite a lot about ASD, especially nutrition-wise. Children diagnosed with ASD tend to suffer from food-related allergies, gluten sensitivities, and gastrointestinal problems. Thousands of books from parents and nutrition professionals alike are addressing these issues and thankfully offering advice and alternative recipes, because let's face it, living with allergies, no matter what kind, is hard. I'll be the first to admit my frustration, but as the pioneers in many therapies raise awareness of these challenges, sufferers will begin to experience relief. (I've managed to write this whole thing only sneezing once.)