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January as it marks the beginning of a new year, is by far one of the most exciting months! Children start new school semesters, adults may begin new jobs in new locations, and everyone is setting resolutions to make this year better than the last. Depending on your industry, there are quite a few cities you may find yourself moving to in the new year. With new cities come new opportunities, new experiences, but also for those who suffer from allergies, new allergens and triggers to be aware of. Encino is one such city you may find yourself in!

Jobs in Encino

1. AGRICULTURE 

In 2015, California’s agriculture industry contributed $47.1 billion to the entire state’s economy. In case you didn’t know this about the Golden State’s Central Valley, the region yields more crops and farm-based goods than any other U.S. state. This agricultural hub is where the magic happens—asparagus, grapes, lettuce, oranges, rice, shelled almonds, tomatoes, and milk being the main produce.

2. FILM AND TELEVISION

Far beyond the glitz and glamour, California’s film and television industry is a vital part of the state’s economy. La La Land employs hundreds of thousands of people up and down the state. The industry also impacts many other sectors, most notably film tourism. If you’re a movie buff thinking of visiting your favorite filming locations, no place is better than the Golden State. 

3. TRAVEL AND TOURISM

It should come as no surprise that travel and tourism are California’s most vital engines for economic growth. There’s so much tourist gold in California that it’s nearly impossible to list it all. But according to a TV commercial titled Living the Dream, the most popular hotspots include Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland, Napa Valley, Pebble Beach, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Yosemite, Venice Beach, and more. The next time you’re traveling, make sure to add these destinations to your itinerary.

4. TECH

Silicon Valley—an almost three trillion dollar neighborhood—is home to 2,000 tech companies, and hands down one of the best regions to live in if you want to work in tech. With growing popularity, tech became more and more synonymous with the Silicon Valley industry, as companies like Atari, Apple, Oracle, eBay, Yahoo, PayPal, and Google were founded in the area. Better yet, most—if not all of these companies—are leaders in their respective industries. Software, social media, robotics, fiber optics, and medical instruments companies create jobs and generate more tax revenue. 

5. SERVICE 

When it comes to the service sector, the Golden State is nothing short of impressive. Consisting of professional, business, education, and health services, as well as financial activities and leisure, this industry makes California a great place to live and work.

6. HEALTHCARE 

Over the last half of the century, the Golden State’s medical care industry has become by far one of the state’s largest growing economic activities. As one of the fastest growing industries in Los Angeles and the state, healthcare surpasses all other employment rates. How big is it? Federal, state, and local governments, employers, and individual California residents are spending well over $400 billion a year on medical care, averaging at about $10,000 for every resident.

Top 4 Things to do in Encino:

1. Hit the beach

With 70-degree-plus days year-round and miles and miles of picturesque coastline, you can enjoy a day at the beach from January to December.

2. Hike Griffith Park and feel above it all

Spanning an impressive 4,210 acres, it’s easy to get lost in L.A.’s largest public green space. For more activity-minded folks, there are abundant attractions (the Los Angeles Zoo and the Observatory, to name just two), not to mention some great dusty hiking trails that afford truly stunning views.

3. Stroll the Venice Canals

Check out a completely different side of this famed beachfront neighborhood. Take a stroll through these three canal-lined blocks—hence the name, Venice—and you’ll discover an idyllic scene: arching pedestrian bridges, charming beach houses, bunches of ducklings and the occasional paddle boarding bulldog.

4. Bike the Strand to Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach boasts two miles of sparkly coastline, almost all of it stacked with dreamy hillside homes. Head down to the beach via the Strand—the bike and walking path that traces the shoreline—for countless volleyball nets and the Manhattan Beach Pier.

You may have discovered these allergens:

Thanks to the pleasant Mediterranean climate of southern California, heavy jackets and snow pants do not dominate closet space. Instead, light sweaters and jeans keep residents and visitors comfortable year-round. Our mild winters and warm, dry summers also mean we do not get a winter reprieve from seasonal allergies. Something is always blooming here! The best months for allergy sufferers to breathe deeply are November through January, but even then, we sometimes see elevated pollen counts.

The New Year brings the start of elevated tree pollen levels, the intensity of which depends on rainfall amounts during the winter “rainy season” (still dry compared to most areas of the country). If we have seen a relatively wet winter, more trees, grasses, and weeds will produce and disperse pollen during the year ahead. The trees that cause the most problems January through May are ash, eucalyptus, mulberry, olive, oak, sycamore, and walnut.

Late spring/early summer welcomes grass pollen to the forefront of the allergy forecast. The grasses that cause the most issues include bermuda, blue, oat, rye grasses. Frequent lawn mowing churns everything up and throws the pollen into the air.

Fall finds the kids going back to school and the start of weed pollen season. Weeds that produce and spread problematic pollen include California sagebush, pigweed, elm, and Russian thistle.

Warm, dry, and windy conditions help spread any pollen released into the air throughout the year. Our periodic Santa Ana winds can blow warm, sometimes hot, air from the desert anytime between September and May. The winds blow hard for days at a time, exacerbating allergy issues by stirring up and carrying pollen, and dust hundreds of miles.

Living in southern California does not doom you to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) forever! If you experience persistent allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and congestion around the same time(s) each year for weeks or even months, you may be one of the many Californians battling seasonal allergies. Southern California Allergy will expertly guide you through the process of identifying your allergy triggers. Based on your allergens and symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will address your needs. Allergy medication can work wonders in some patients. Others choose oral immunotherapy, which builds up your body’s immunity to allergens over time. Come in to see us before your symptoms start for the season so we can help you win the allergy battle!

How we can treat you:

Biologics – Allergy and immunology treatment options continue to expand, thanks in large part to a drug class called biologics. Derived from living organisms, these medications can target specific components of the immune system and prevent inflammation that causes a variety of conditions. Southern California Allergy Associates’ specialists stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field. We offer several biologics that provide a beacon of hope for some patients whose conditions, including severe asthma and eczema, have not responded well to traditional treatments.

Allergy Shots  – When allergy medicine and avoidance do not provide sufficient relief, allergy shots can make all the difference in a patient’s quality of life. They are not a quick fix, but many people find them to be well worth the time and effort. They can desensitize your immune system to pollen (trees, grass, weeds), insect stings, pet dander, dust, mold, and cockroaches. Removing these allergic reactions can result in relief from asthma, eczema, ear issues, and sinus troubles exacerbated by allergies.

Allergy Drops – Oral allergy drops have proven safe and effective for patients facing rhinitis, asthma, and eczema caused by airborne allergens including grass, pollen, ragweed, pet dander, mold, and dust mites.

Meet our Doctor

Dr. Danica J. Schulte received her MD from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, and completed fellowships at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA. She has triple board certifications in Allergy & Immunology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics.

Dr. Schulte has been affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the past 21 years, and continues to participate in the teaching program and consultative practice at Cedars-Sinai in Allergy and Immunology after leaving full time faculty in 2012. She has published research papers in several peer-reviewed medical periodicals. She is an Assistant Professor at both Cedars-Sinai and UCLA, and is President of The Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Schulte grew up in Los Angeles, and lives in Studio City with her husband and two beautiful children. She enjoys photography and coaching her daughter’s volleyball team.

We look forward serving you in 2023.