Summer’s great for getting outside, but for a lot of people, it can also mean dealing with allergies. Let’s talk about the common triggers, how to tell allergies apart from a cold, and what you can do to feel better.
What Triggers Summer Allergies?
Trees start pollinating in the spring, from the end of March through May. Then grass takes over in June and July. After that, weeds pollinate from August through mid-October. If you know you’re allergic to any of these, it’s best to start treatment before pollination begins to get ahead of symptoms.
How Can You Help Allergy Symptoms at Home?
Simple stuff can make a big difference. Keep your windows closed so pollen doesn’t come inside. Wearing hats and sunglasses helps protect your face and eyes when you’re outside. Also, showering in the evening if you’ve been outdoors a lot that day can wash off pollen and reduce symptoms.
Allergies or a Cold? How Can You Tell?
Colds and allergies both can give you a runny or stuffy nose. But allergies often come with an itchy nose and itchy eyes, which are less common with colds. Also, if you notice symptoms happen every spring or last longer than a week, that’s usually allergies.
How Do Allergy Medications Differ?
We usually don’t recommend older antihistamines like Benadryl for seasonal allergies. The newer ones like ceterizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are better because they don’t make you sleepy as much and last longer.
Decongestants like Afrin nasal spray or oral ones like Zyrtec-D aren’t great for long-term use because of side effects. Nasal steroids like fluticasone (Flonase) work well for allergies too, but they don’t work as quickly as the others. They’re good for longer-term care.
When is it Time to See a Doctor or Allergy Specialist?
If allergy meds aren’t helping, it might be time to see a specialist. They can diagnose your allergies in about 20 minutes. Knowing exactly what you’re allergic to helps you start treatment before the season begins. Also, many people who are allergic to pollen are unknowingly allergic to their pets too.
Allergy shots or drops can help desensitize you and provide relief for years.
Anything Else to Know?
If you notice that certain raw fruits or veggies like apples or carrots make your mouth itch during allergy season, it could be a cross reaction with pollen. This is called Food-Pollen Syndrome.
