“A to Z from Our Family Medicine Doctors at UT Health Northeast” column
Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in the Gladewater Mirror
By: Kia Ousley, MD
Springtime, at last! The weather is warm, flowers are blooming – and we are all sneezing.
Along with beautiful weather and blossoms, springtime brings pollen, which floats through the air and right up our noses. It’s a common allergy trigger, especially here in East Texas.
Pollen causes seasonal allergies, with symptoms that include runny nose, itchy or red eyes, scratchy throat, sneezing, and sinus drainage. Fortunately, most allergy symptoms can be remedied by taking over-the-counter medications.
Nasal corticosteroids such as Flonase or Nasonex are the recommended first step in treating allergic rhinitis (hay fever). These should be used every day, though they take anywhere from a few days to two weeks to start working.
The next step in seasonal allergy treatment is a non-drowsy, over-the-counter antihistamine such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), or levocetirizine (Xyzal).
These are medications you take every day to quell allergy symptoms. They can have side effects, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking them, especially if you have a chronic medical condition or take other daily medications.
Drugs aren’t the only way to lessen allergy symptoms. You can wear a mask during yardwork and exercise or work outdoors during the morning or late in the day when pollen levels are lower.
A HEPA filter can help keep outdoor allergens like pollen from getting into your house. In addition, frequently washing your hair and your pets’ coats will help lower pollen levels inside the house.
If you have symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath, you may have something more serious than a seasonal allergy; see your doctor. If over-the-counter allergy medicines don’t give you any relief, see your doctor then, too.