WEB MD article about seasonal allergies Seasonal Health NewsFeature from How to Survive Spring Allergy SeasonMore Health HeadlinesBy Heather HatfieldReviewed by: Michael Smith
Spring is in the air. Literally. From weeds to spores to grass and tree pollens, the warm weather is almost here, driving airborne allergen levels through the roof. That means your allergy symptoms -- the sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes -- are in overdrive and apt to stay that way for months.What can you do? WebMD asked some of the country's leading allergy experts to weigh in with answers to your top questions about spring allergies . Here are suggestions for helping you find some much-needed relief this season.
How do I know what I'm allergic to? There is a world of spring allergens out there. How can you possibly figure out which one is playing havoc with your eyes, nose, and throat?"The allergy skin test is the quickest, most inexpensive, and most accurate way to find out what you are allergic to, whether it's mold, grass pollen, or a type of weed," says Neil Kao, MD, an internal medicine physician specializing in allergy and immunology at the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville, S.C.Talk with your primary care doctor or an allergist. Both can give you an allergy test . The skin is pricked slightly to allow an allergen, such as grass or mold, to enter the outer layer; after about 15 to 20 minutes, the physician will check for a reaction, such as hives or redness and swelling, which will identify the specific allergen causing your symptoms.Once you know your trigger, keep an eye on allergen levels in the air using WebMD's Pollen Counter during the spring season, and avoid your triggers as much as possible -- the first steps in keeping your allergies under control.
How can I manage my allergies using over-the-counter medication? Spring allergy relief is within your reach -- on your local drugstore's shelves. "Start by taking an over-the-counter, non-sedating antihistamine , such as generic Claritin or Zyrtec , every morning. If your nose remains congested, add a saline nasal rinse or oral decongestant pill (if you don't have high blood pressure ). You can also take a long-acting decongestant nose spray for a few days, if necessary. If these treatments don't clear your nasal congestion, ask your doctor about adding a corticosteroid nose spray," says Paul Enright, MD, WebMD's allergy expert and research professor of medicine and public health at the University of Arizona.Other over-the-counter tools for managing your allergies are lozenges to soothe a sore throat , which can be irritated by postnasal drip from your runny nose, and antihistamine eyedrops to relieve itchy, watery eyes.Look for antihistamine on the label when shopping for eyedrops; these treat the root of your allergy symptoms, instead of eyedrops that just relieve the redness (also known as decongestant eyedrops). If you do buy the latter, be sure you don't use them for more than two to three days -- over time you will need more and more to relieve the redness.
Are nasal sprays really addictive?The rumors are true: Some over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays can be addicting if not used as a short-term solution. You want to find a nonaddicting nasal spray if you decide to use this product."Over-the-counter nasal sprays are extremely effective, but they are also extremely addictive," says Jeffrey M. Factor, MD, an allergist and immunologist at the Connecticut Asthma & Allergy Center in West Hartford.Your nose becomes dependent on the nasal spray and stops working the way it should when the spray is overused, he explains. This causes rebound congestion -- meaning the medication loses power the more you use it. When the spray stops working, the congestion comes back with a vengeance. If you're hooked, prescription nasal steroids can help you kick the habit and improve your congestion during the spring allergy season.
How can you tell if an over-the-counternasal spray might be long-term trouble? Check the label for a warning -- if it says "don't use the spray for more than three days at a time," pay attention.Beyond medication, what can I do to manage my allergies? First, think practically: Try to avoid your triggers altogether by keeping your windows closed, even on an inviting spring day. That's when allergen levels are at their peak.
Next, take a shower after you've spent time outdoors."After you come inside on a nice spring day, you are literally covered in allergens," says Kao. "You track it through your house, and worse, you get in bed covered with the pollen or grass spores that make you congested. Guess what? Now you are going to lie in it for eight hours and wake up feeling miserable."Allergens such as pollen tend to stick to fabrics, which means you can deposit allergens from your clothes on your furniture, on your pillow, and on the people around you. All of a sudden the safe haven of your home is as allergy-ridden as the outdoors.So wash your bedding, your pajamas, and your clothes as often as possible to rid them of troublesome allergens during the spring season.What about the natural and alternative remedies I hear about: Do any work? If you're looking for a home-remedy approach for your springtime allergies, start simple: A saltwater nose spray can be a springtime allergy sufferer's all-natural ally."Mix 8 ounces of water with half a teaspoon of table salt in a squirt bottle," says Enright. "You can use this every morning when you wake up and in the evening to clear the allergens out of your nose." You can also buy a saline-solution nose spray at your local drugstore if you don't feel like whipping it up yourself.What about other alternative remedies for spring allergies? Acupuncture , homeopathy, and herbal treatments are possible solutions to your spring allergy symptoms, but more research is needed first for a solid recommendation.Some studies do show promise, especially with acupuncture. In a study of children with hay fever published in the November 2004 issue of Pediatrics, those who received acupuncture twice a week for eight weeks showed fewer symptoms and more symptom-free days -- both during treatment and for about 10 weeks after -- than the kids who did not receive acupuncture.If you are considering an alternative therapy for your spring allergies, start by talking to your doctor.Are antihistamines addictive too? Here's one rumor that is not true.
"People may be worried about antihistamines being addictive," says Kao. "But we are concrete on this one -- there is no way they are addictive."But while you won't get hooked on allergy medications such as antihistamines, either over-the-counter or prescription strength, you could build up a tolerance to them, he explains. The solution? Rotate the types of over-the-counter medications you take to ensure they give you the most bang for your buck."If you build up a tolerance, it will happen after about three months or so," says Kao.
"When you notice your symptoms coming back, switch to a different brand or type of allergy medication for a while until you either get through the season or lower your tolerance back to normal after a few months."I love the outdoors. How can I enjoy the warm weather with my allergies? The trick to planting flowers or mowing the lawn on a pleasant spring day is not to treat your allergy symptoms, but to prevent them before they kick in."Pretreat your allergies with an antihistamine about a half-hour before your day begins to avoid an allergy attack altogether and minimize your suffering," says Enright.And don't be caught unprepared. Be sure to have "rescue" medications such as eyedrops and decongestants on standby -- just in case.
When do I need prescription allergy medication? You've jumped through hoops to manage your springtime allergies. You started with an allergy test to pinpoint your triggers, you've kept a watchful eye on pollen counts to avoid outdoor activities when the numbers spike, you've been taking extra showers when needed and doing laundry nonstop, and you've tried several over-the-counter allergy treatments . Your efforts, however, are not producing results, and you're still suffering from all the classic spring allergy symptoms. It's time to see your primary care doctor or an allergist."The next step is to try prescription-strength medications," says Kao. "Once you get started, you should have your allergies under control in just a week or two." Does this mean you can put your laundry soap away? Not quite, explains Kao. You still need to be vigilant in managing your allergies on your own, but now you can do it with prescription strength on your side.Some of the prescription medications in your doctor's allergy war chest are:Antihistamines, such as Claritin, Zyrtec (note: these two are the same formulations as the over-the-counter versions), and Allegra , which block the release of histamine, a chemical that can cause redness, swelling, and itching.Nasal steroids, including Beconase, Flonase , Nasacort, Nasonex, Rhinocort, and Veramyst, which reduce inflammation and prevent and treat nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and itchy, runny nose brought on by seasonal or year-round allergies.Leukotriene modifiers, such as Singular, which work by blocking the effects of leukotrienes, chemicals produced in the body in response to an allergen.All of these medications should be used as directed by your doctor, who will talk to you about how often, for how long, and at what dose you should take your allergy meds.Do I need allergy shots? The same formula applies to prescription medications: If your allergy symptoms don't improve over time, the next step may be to take it up a notch with allergy shots. When you start the shots, generally given once or twice a week to begin, you'll probably stay on your prescription medicine to manage your symptoms. If you're like most people, by the time the next allergy season rolls around, you may have started to build up resistance and have milder symptoms. That's when allergy medications are like spare tires, explains Kao -- you use them only if you need them.
Is there hope on the horizon for those with spring allergies? A new type of therapy could take the place of allergy shots in a few years; it's called sublingual immunotherapy. As with today's allergy shots, you visit your allergist or primary care physician for daily or weekly treatment, but instead of a needle, you get a few drops of an allergen solution under your tongue (that's what "sublingual" means).The drops are a slow-release immunotherapy, meaning they build up your resistance to allergens over time. Better yet, they might be just as effective as shots, with a lower risk of side effects such as severe allergic reactions.That's the good news, Factor explains. The bad news is that although sublingual immunotherapy is now in clinical trials, it's not yet available in the United States and probably won't be for a couple of years, pending approval by the FDA. Stay tuned.
If I have allergies, will my kids have them too? Unfortunately, the pollen doesn't fall far from the tree. In this case, family can be destiny."If one parent has allergies, then his child has a 33% chance of developing allergies," says Kao. "If both parents have allergies, then their child has a 67% chance."His advice to avoid passing your allergies on to your kids? "Be careful whom you marry," says Kao, half joking.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Originally published in the March/April 2008 issue ofWebMD the Magazine .
