Spring and summer produce warm, sunny weather, but for some people these seasons also bring itchy eyes, tickly throats and relentless sneezing. Whether your seasonal allergies are mild or extreme, they are almost always bothersome. Taking simple steps can help relieve your symptoms and let you enjoy the great outdoors year-round.
Is it a cold or allergy?
Allergies are caused when plants, trees and grasses release pollen into the air. When you breathe the pollen in, your body reacts to it like it’s an invader. It releases chemicals including histamine which cause your symptoms. Seasonal allergy symptoms usually include sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, post-nasal drip, fatigue and cough .
A common question when you have these symptoms is whether you have a cold or allergies. Many of the symptoms are the same, but with a cold you are more likely to have a fever and sore throat; allergies will leave you with itchy eyes and puffy eyelids.
Colds also tend to last up to 10 days (though they can hang around longer). Seasonal allergies tend to linger for several weeks, or the whole allergy season.
Avoiding your triggers
Your first line of defense against allergies is to avoid them when possible. But limiting your exposure to pollen doesn’t mean you can’t leave your house. Ways to reduce your contact with pollen include:
- Monitoring pollen and mold counts, which can be done through local weather reports, weather apps or with the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology’s allergen tracker.
- Staying inside when it’s dry and windy.
- Going out after a rain shower, because it clears pollen from the air.
- Knowing when pollen counts are lower: in spring and summer, pollen is highest in the evening; in late summer and early fall, pollen is highest in the morning.
- Wearing an N-95 mask to reduce pollen getting into your mouth and sinuses when you mow the lawn or do other yard work.
It’s also important to keep pollen outside where it belongs. When pollen is high, use air conditioning in your car and house instead of keeping the windows down. If you’ve been outside, change your clothes and shower, so pollen won’t spread through your house.
You can also reduce the amount of dust and pollen in your house with good filtration. If your house has an HVAC system, high-efficiency filters and regular maintenance helps keep indoor air clean. You might also consider putting a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom and using HEPA filters in your vacuum cleaner.
Allergy treatment options
Depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms, there are a range of treatments you can try — and many are inexpensive and available without a prescription.
One simple way to relieve sinus congestion related to allergies is by rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution. This helps flush out mucus and allergens from your sinuses. These can be purchased ready-made from brands like NeilMed or neti pot. You can also make your own solution at home with one quart of water, 1.5 teaspoons of canning salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Boiling the water or using distilled water helps avoid infection.
Another common treatment for allergies is antihistamines. The medications block histamine receptors and help relieve most allergy symptoms. Antihistamines include medications like fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). They often work to relieve symptoms for 24 hours. Antihistamines are most effective if you begin taking them about two weeks before you typically start having allergies.
Nasal sprays are an option if most of your symptoms are in your nose or eyes. These medications are steroids that decrease inflammation in your sinus passages. These sprays work best when you use them regularly, as directed. They can also take a few weeks to work, so you may not notice an immediate improvement in symptoms. Steroid nasal sprays include triamcinolone (Nasacort) and fluticasone propionate (Flonase).
Talk to your doctor
If you are dealing with severe allergies or have chronic sinus congestion that interferes with your sleep or daily activities, you may want to talk to your primary care provider or an allergist. Allergists will test you to find out your specific allergens and discuss treatment options.
Treatments may include immunotherapy given in shots or tablets under the tongue. These medications contain small amounts of your allergens. Over time, this exposure helps you tolerate the allergens and your symptoms should gradually decrease.
Staying on top of your seasonal allergies can help you reduce your symptoms and enjoy the change in seasons, instead of sneezing through them. For more information on tools to manage seasonal allergies, visit kp.org/sandiego.
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