Spring Allergies?
With the weather starting to turn warmer it is obvious Spring is around the corner. Most of us are excited to spend time outdoors again. Going for hikes, mowing the lawn, and spending time at the lake are the spring and summer activities that most of us yearn for after a long cold winter. However there are some unlucky individuals that see spring in a different light. Itchy eyes, sinus congestion, runny nose, sore throat are the first things that pop into their minds when the weather starts to turn.
So what can be done to help prevent some of these uncomfortable symptoms and enjoy the season change. Prevention is the most important step to take. Over the counter antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine, stop your body from producing histamine. Histamine is a chemical compound produced by our bodies in response to any kind of allergic reaction. Once Histamine is in the system the cat is out of the bag. Oftentimes patients wait till allergy symptoms show up and then start taking medications.
Unfortunately the antihistamines have no effect on the histamine floating around the body, they only stop your body from producing more. This causes patients mistakenly to think the medication is not working because they don’t feel better right away. Next steroid nasal sprays are a good option. They have a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the sinus and nasal mucosa. They can help prevent and relieve some allergy symptoms. Finally if the symptoms are not controlled with these over the counter options, see a medical provider to evaluate the symptoms and decide if prescription medications are needed.
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