Sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes—it’s springtime! As the temperature climbs and the sun starts to shine, flowers, weeds, plants and trees begin to bloom, bringing on the dreaded allergens that cause many readers to sniffle throughout the months of spring.
Seasonal allergies can be a real pain, especially when others are outside enjoying the beautiful weather and you’re stuck inside with a box of tissues and a bottle of Nyquil. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to battle springtime allergies.
About 40 million American adults and children are affected by “seasonal,” or “nasal” allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Web site.
Seasonal allergies are accompanied with nasal stuffiness, sneezing, nasal itching, clear nasal discharge and itching of the roof of the mouth and/or ears, according to the site.
Decongestants are used to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies like allergic rhinitis, or inflammation of the nose.
“Be careful, however, with the use of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays. Overuse of these products can actually make your stuffy nose worse,” according to the site.
Antihistamines are also used to relieve allergy symptoms. Unfortunately many of these medications cause drowsiness, so opt for a newer product, developed to not cause drowsiness if you are going to take it during the day.
Most of these medications are available with a doctor’s prescriptions, with a few being over the counter.
“The most effective mediations for allergic rhinitis are the prescription corticosteroid nose sprays that reduce allergic inflammation, usually without causing systemic side effects,” according to the site.
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If you are experiencing allergy related symptoms, it is advisable to see your general practitioner to determine whether or not you are suffering from allergies and not an upper respiratory infection, Olin Health Center’s marketing and communication manager Kathi Braunlich said.
“If you’re going to Olin and are a registered MSU student, the first three visits are free of charge. That would be a good time to use one of those visits—to determine whether your symptoms are caused by allergies or not,” Braunlich said.
Usually your health care provider will recommend an over the counter allergy medicine. If that doesn’t work, your doctor may prescribe a medication or refer you to an allergist, Braunlich said.
An allergist may carry out tests to find out the allergen that is causing your symptoms. The skin prick test is usually the first test done when a doctor is looking for an allergen.
The skin is pricked with a small amount of the allergen to see if there is a reaction. If there is a reaction, the skin will become swollen, red and very itchy, which will provide the doctor with the specific allergen that is causing your symptoms.
For readers who suffer from severe allergies or for those who have symptoms lasting more than 3 months out of the year, allergy shots, also called “immunotherapy,” can be given, which reduce your sensitivity to certain allergens.
Allergy shots are given regularly, often once a week, injected in the upper arm with the doses gradually increasing until a maintenance dose is reached.
According to Web MD’s, Allergies Health Center, “You may become less sensitive to allergens during this time and your allergy symptoms will become milder (or) may even go away.”
If you’re unsure about whether or not your allergies are severe, this site provides an Allergy & Sinus Symptom Evaluator which gives you an action plan such as how to deal with your symptoms, the probable cause and how to choose the correct medication and dosage to help treat your allergies.
So, remember, you don’t have to sniffle your way through springtime! There are many options out there to help treat your allergy symptoms.