Seasonal Allergies:
8 Tips That Offer Relief
Article by allergist Dr. Todd Mahr
Your Heart Health
(BPT) - Spring. The time of year when, as poet Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said, a young man's (and woman's) fancy "lightly turns to thoughts of love." That is, of course, if you're not sneezing, coughing or dealing with itchy eyes. Spring allergies seem to get worse every year. Is there anything you can do to avoid them? “Yes”, says allergist Dr. Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). "You might feel like suffering from allergies is going to happen every spring no matter what, but there are ways to help alleviate your symptoms." These 8 tips will help you enjoy the season instead of sitting it out indoors.
1. See an allergist. Before the season kicks in, make an appointment with an allergist to find out exactly what is causing those itchy, watery eyes. Discovering the allergen that you're reacting to is the first
step in treating it. The ACAAI's Allergist Locator can help you find a board-certified allergist in your area.
2. Find out if it's allergies or asthma. Or both. The symptoms from asthma can be similar to those of allergies. Allergies plus asthma can be a one-two punch for some allergy sufferers. Almost 75 percent of asthma sufferers also have allergies. Your allergist can diagnose what's causing your symptoms and offer suggestions for treatment, so you can start living the life you want to live.
3. Consider allergy shots ... They may be the best way to treat tree, grass, mold, dust mite, cat and dog allergies. Allergy shots are immunotherapy. That means your allergist will gradually give you increasingly larger doses of whatever you're allergic to. There are also tablets that melt under your tongue to treat